A sensor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection includes a voltage divider and a device coupled thereto. The sensor is coupled to an input terminal of the sensor, wherein a voltage drop occurs across the voltage divider and a high state voltage is generated at an output terminal of the sensor when an ESD voltage pulse is applied to the input terminal of the sensor. The device maintains the high state voltage at the output terminal of the sensor, while the ESD voltage pulse is applied to the input terminal of the sensor. A method for ESD protection includes the step of pulling down a gate terminal of a MOS transistor of an ESD circuit to a low state voltage when an ESD pulse is sensed.