Kids were taught to be careful not to swallow their tongues, as it would cause them to choke and die, especially during a seizure.
You cannot swallow your own tongue. Your tongue is anchored to the floor of your mouth and connected to your pharynx, making swallowing it physically impossible. During a seizure, your tongue might move toward your airway, but it won't block it or become 'swallowed.' Never put anything in a seizing person's mouth, modern first aid recommends placing them in recovery position instead.
Reception
Sources
- Wikipedia: Tongue PRIMARY
- Snopes: Swallow Tongue Myth REFERENCE
- Mayo Clinic: Seizure First Aid REFERENCE