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// seizures , death , medicine , medical emergencies , suicide mention
things i learned from the seizure recognition and first aid training class from the epilepsy foundation in thread form !
things i learned from the seizure recognition and first aid training class from the epilepsy foundation in thread form !
signifies a general topic change
signifies a key topic
signifies the most important information
knowing seizure recognition and first aid can save lives.
key facts
on average, 1/10 people will have a seizure (though, not all have epilepsy.)
people may not be aware they are having a seizure due to a lapse of awareness.
seizures are not contagious.
people may not be aware they are having a seizure due to a lapse of awareness.
seizures are not contagious.
most seizures are NOT medical emergencies (see more in treatment) people cannot swallow their tongues during seizures. epilepsy is a medical disease people can die from seizures.
seizure risks
physical injury
difficulty breathing
emergencies (such as asphyxiation)
increased likelihood of depression, anxiety, and suicide
early death (more here https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/early-death-and-sudep/sudep)
difficulty breathing
emergencies (such as asphyxiation)
increased likelihood of depression, anxiety, and suicide
early death (more here https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/early-death-and-sudep/sudep)
basic seizure overview
to put it shortly, seizures are when your neurons, which are responsible for communication in and out of the brain, “short circuit”. if you have a brain, you can have a seizure. that doesn’t mean the risks are high, but they can occur with a number of conditions.
things such as brain trauma/ lesions/ infections, changes in brain development, strokes, or genetics can all cause seizures. other things can, too.
epilepsy is a condition that causes a risk of unprovoked seizures. there are many types of epilepsy, and 1/26 people in the USA get diagnosed with it. it is not indicative of a cause of prognosis.
65 million people worldwide have epilepsy, with 3.4 million being in the USA. older people are more likely to develop it after strokes, but epilepsy does not only affect a certain gender, race, culture, etc.
only ~30% know the cause of theirs, and there’s no one diagnosing test.
only ~30% know the cause of theirs, and there’s no one diagnosing test.
if you want to know common triggers of epileptic seizures, you can find them here. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/triggers-seizures
what can seizures do?
they can cause changes in movement, sensations, behavior, speech, awareness, and a wide range of other things.
types of seizures
there are two general categories; focal and generalized.
focal ones are in one region or lobe of the brain.
generalized ones are across the entire brain.
then, there are the types of seizures.
focal ones are in one region or lobe of the brain.
generalized ones are across the entire brain.
then, there are the types of seizures.
focal aware seizure: typically last for 1-3 minutes.fully aware and alert
potential changes in motor (twitching/jerking), sensory (tingling, vision changes), or psychic (anxiety, deja vu) behavior.
focal impaired awareness seizure: typically last 1-3 min.
not aware, or confused.
may have a blank, dazed stare.
clumsy movements
may not be able to talk
often followed by tiredness, headache nausea
may become combattive if restrained
not aware, or confused.
may have a blank, dazed stare.
clumsy movements
may not be able to talk
often followed by tiredness, headache nausea
may become combattive if restrained
i forgot to add: focal impaired awareness seizures may include automatisms, which are meaningless movements such head tilting, hand motions, etc.
also i forgot the. my bad
also i forgot the
. my bad
generalized absence seizure: last under 20 seconds.pause in activity with a blank stare
brief lapse of awareness
possible blinking/chewing motions
may occur many times a day
immediate return to normal
IT IS NOT DAYDREAMING. this is a common mix-up.
tonic clonic seizures: typically last 1-3 minutes. over 5 minutes is a medical emergency.sudden hoarse cry
loss of consciousness
a fall
stiff limbs (tonic) then jerking (clonic)
shallow breathing/ drooling may occur
possible loss of bowel/bladder control.
these are usually followed by extreme headache, fatigue, etc. give victims time to rest after any type of seizure, of course, but tonic clonic especially.
other seizure terms:changes in muscle tone
stiff-limbed (tonic)
loose/floppy-limbed (atonic)
jerking
brief jerks (myoclonic)
rhythmic jerking (clonic)
what to do
remember the basics:
stay, safe, side + 5
stay, safe, side + 5
1. STAY with the person until they are awake and aware after the seizure. time the seizure. stay calm, inform others of what is happening.
2. keep the person SAFE. if they are walking, guide them away from hazards such as stairs or tables. if unconscious, move everything away, put something soft under their head to prevent them from hitting it.
3. turn them on their side. things may come out of their mouth, such as blood, whatever they ate, saliva, etc. let it go on the floor, not in their lungs.keep their airway clear and loosen tight clothing around their neck.
DO NOT RESTRAIN THEM. EVER. this may cause harm to you and them and it does not stop the seizure. do not put anything in their mouth or nose. rescue medicine (talked about later on) is the only exception.
call 911 (or your emergency services) IF:the person is sick, pregnant, or injured
this is their first seizure ever
they are in water (protocol discussed later)
repeated/ back-to-back seizures
difficulty breathing
5+ minutes long
they do not return to normal after the seizure
there are some exceptions to normal protocol.
if they are in a wheelchair:keep them in it, if possible.
secure it by putting on the brakes.
loosely fasten the seatbelt so they do not fall out.
protect and secure their head.
make sure they can breathe correctly.
on public transportation:guide them away from platforms
if you need to, hold them away from it; call for help if it becomes dangerous.
don’t leave them alone in their seat until they are awake and alert.
continued in next post
public transportation cont.
for a loss of consciousness; place them on their side in the aisle, or on a seat facing away from the seat back.
call 911 if needed.
for a loss of consciousness; place them on their side in the aisle, or on a seat facing away from the seat back.
call 911 if needed.
in water: THIS IS ALWAYS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. support their head so their nose and mouth are above water
remove them from the water as soon as it is safe to do so.
follow normal seizure protocol
perform rescue breathing if needed
call 911 ASAP.
rescue medicine
this medicine is prescribed by medical professionals for use during seizures. it may help the person recover faster.
it should be administered exactly as written- and can be done by anyone it does not take the place of daily medicine (if they have it), or any of the protocol steps. it may have to go under their tongue, in nose, on cheek, or up their bottom. check the medicine to know
recovery period
this is called the postictal period. it’s the time immediately following a seizure. how long it lasts may very depending on the seizure type.
during this time, get them to a safe place and check awakeness and alertness; don’t leave them alone.
inform anyone they call and/or medical professionals of these observations:how long did it last?
what did you see?
any injuries?
when and where did it happen?
any medicine before/during the seizure?
any different than usual/past ones?
give written notes, if possible.
also, just know. you can perform seizure first aid regardless of if you know them or not. they are counting on you to help them when they cannot help themselves.
this infographic is good! however, do know some people may have shared an action plan with people they know; follow that if there is one.
the big takeaway?
remember there are different types of seizures.
remember stay, safe, side + 5.
remember that they can’t always help themselves and you may be the deciding factor in what happens.
remember that you can help them.
remember there are different types of seizures.
remember stay, safe, side + 5.
remember that they can’t always help themselves and you may be the deciding factor in what happens.
remember that you can help them.
i got all my info from the epilepsy foundation/ CDC’s webinar (and passed the certification test), so i may miss some details. if anyone who experiences seizures has anything to add let me know :)
