Lauren Felts, Advertisement Manager
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month and as a way to help prevent any incidents, it is important to know what to do in the event of someone experiencing a seizure.
Epilepsy is a medical condition in which the brain experiences abnormal brain cell activity. It can be caused by head trauma, genetics, or developmental disorders. Having epilepsy causes the person to encounter seizures. In the event that you are in the same room or near someone experiencing a seizure, it is important to first understand the different types of seizures and how it affects the brain.
According to the CDC, there are two major types of seizures: generalized and focal seizures. An absence seizure is a generalized and less severe seizure that will often cause rapid or sudden blinking as well as absent mindedness. A tonic-clonic seizure is a more severe generalized seizure causing the person to potentially lose consciousness, lose control of muscles, spasm, and cry out.
Focal seizures can be divided into three categories and affect a particular area of the brain, as compared to generalized which affect both sides of the brain. Simple focal seizures often only affect a small part of the brain, according to the CDC, and can cause a different sensation in taste or smell as well as sudden twitching. Complex focal seizures can leave a person feeling dazed and confused and can last for several minutes. Secondary generalized seizures start out in one part of the brain as a focal seizure, spreads through the rest of the brain, and develops into a generalized seizure.
In most cases, seizures will only last a few minutes, and not every seizure is an emergency. However it is extremely important to monitor the duration of the seizure as well as the symptoms the person is experiencing. To help monitor the affects, stay to the person’s side and remain calm until the seizure of finished. If the duration lasts longer than five minutes, call 911 immediately and stay with the person until help arrives. Do not attempt to give the person CPR, do not hold them down, give them anything such as food or water, or put anything in their mouths until they are fully alert and conscious. If the seizure seems severe, help them to the ground and lay them on their side to help with breathing. Make sure their airways are not blocked by anything such a tight tie or necklace.
Once the seizure has subsided, it is likely that the person will be confused. Sit the person up gently, and explain in simple terms what had happened. It is important to try and stay calm during the experience, as well as after, so you are not causing the person any added stress. Most likely, the person will already be familiar with their symptoms as people with epilepsy can encounter at least one severe seizure as well as up to 20 or 25 partial seizures a day, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Currently, there is no known cure for epilepsy, however, with medication it can be managed and monitored. For some, cases are more severe, and even with medication, some will still encounter a few seizures daily. So, it is important to know these steps noted above to properly handle the situation should the event ever occur.
For more information on epilepsy visit the Epilepsy Foundation to gain a better understanding on the condition or get professionally certified and take action.
