It is a traumatic experience to watch someone have a seizure and is often a memory that would last with you for a lifetime. Being informed on how to deal with the situation and offer assistance to this person is absolutely invaluable. You could potentially save their life with a little knowledge and through taking swift action.
What positive action can you take if you suffer from seizures?
If you yourself are prone to having seizures then the best thing to carry around with you at all times is either a medical wristband or a medical history booklet that can be referred to in the event you have a seizure in public. At home, it would be essential to have a plan of action that each family member is aware of. This plan should be revised and revisited by all family members frequently.
When family members have steps to follow and are familiar with this plan of action, there will be far less panic and you will have the help you need as quickly as you need it. Staying calm in a moment of high stress and panic is a skill that can be learned and is essential when family members are susceptible to experiencing seizures.
Having frequent and unexpected seizures could mean that you will need to make sure your house and furniture aren’t going to injure you during an attack. In this instance, you might need to attach soft rubber to the corners of a dining table as an example. Although you can never anticipate where the seizure will occur the better prepare you are, the less likely you are to create additional injuries that could have been avoided.
Although there is no cure for epilepsy there may be some medications that have been reported as helping to limit the number of seizures that might occur. This is particularly useful for those who experience more frequent seizures.
What can you do if someone else suffers from a seizure?
Although it is not possible to prevent a seizure from occurring, there are steps you can take that will help the person who is suffering. If it is a family member, ask them to create an action plan and ask them how they would like to be treated during the attack.
If someone has an attack in a public place and it is not someone known to you, step in and take action with the following tips:
• Make sure there are no objects near them that could cause harm. Remove the objects a safe distance away
• Check for a medical wrist bracelet or health care plan, as chronic sufferers will carry these
• It is never safe to try and move a person having a fit
• Talk to them calmly and let them know that everything will be ok
• Where possible try and keep their airways free, however never put your finger in the mouth of a person having a fit as you could lose it
• Stay with them until they have come out of it, as they will probably feel disoriented
Photo: Thinkstock/Pixel_away