So, March 26th was International Epilepsy Day and March was a significant month for the community with or affected by Epilepsy. Unfortunately, this year it was overshadowed so, I thought for the last blog of the month, we’d say farewell to March with some tips for the public about seizures and what to do if your friend or family member has one. Please share the information with at least one person you know! You’d be surprised how common epilepsy is!
Much of the general public can spot a “Tonic Clonic” seizure, but there are other types of seizures that most of us would not recognize.
Different Types of Common Seizures
An absence seizure is usually a quick, small seizure. Many people look as though they are zoned out or distracted when they have one of these kinds of episodes They may also ask you to repeat your last few sentences. These kinds of seizures are so small the person having one might not be aware of what’s going on. For this kind of a seizure, you can just relax, if you notice it.
Another type of seizure that is more easily recognized, but not necessarily large is a “partial complex” seizure. These seizures can last up to two minutes. Often, there will be some body parts twitching. Some people make noises during these seizures, although they are quite different depending on the person. If the person does end up on the floor, move sharp objects out of the way and put something under their head if you can. This kind of a seizure shouldn’t last too long.
If someone has a larger seizure and does collapse to the floor here is what to do:
1. Make sure the person is safe and move sharp objects out of the way to make sure no injuries occur on a sharp corner or large object.
2. If it is safe for you, try to get a soft jacket or pillow under the person’s head to stop them from hitting it on a hard floor.
Head safety is extremely important for people with epilepsy. The smacking of the head can be very dangerous for anybody and sometimes even be the cause of a seizure. In general, we all need to be careful with our precious brains…they’re important, you know?
3. Again, if it is safe for you, loosen anything that might be around the person’s neck like a tie or a scarf. If you can’t get to it, don’t worry.
It’s easy to constrict our airways when we are not conscious of our actions. This is a preventive measure from any airway obstruction.
4.Time the seizure. If it is over five minutes, call an ambulance.
If you know that the person that you are with has seizures, there is no need to call an ambulance every time. However, brain damage can be caused by longer seizures, so if it is longer than 5 minutes, call 911.
5. If you are in public and people begin to crowd around, ask the crowd to please leave. There is no need for others to start panicking or inadvertently create a chaotic situation. There is nothing more frustrating than becoming a public spectacle when in a vulnerable state.
6. Reassure the person while they are having a seizure that they will be ok, and that you are there with them.
Often, toward the end of a seizure, the person can hear and comprehend language but they might not be able to communicate the moment that they feel able to speak. In fact, sometimes gibberish may come out, which sounds perfectly sensible to the individual coming to after a seizure. Don’t worry about that, the brain just takes a while to get organized.
Reassuring the individual that you are there with them and letting them know that they had a seizure and will be OK might help the person understand what is going on and relax slightly.
There are several types of seizures. Did you know that someone can have a seizure and maintain consciousness? Some people with epilepsy even draw the visions they have during a seizure, as they can be quite beautiful.
