EPILEPSY

Dispatcher Files

Here are a few facts about #epilepsy.

Many people are not sure what to do when someone has an epileptic seizure. It is scary to witness for the first time. 

If someone is having a epileptic seizure, try to remember the following:

1. Stay calm. 
2. Once a seizure has taken place, the patient will open their eyes and look around but they will not speak or move because they physically can’t. 
3. Keep any sharp objects away from the patient.
4. Move the patient into the recovery position (on their side).
5. It’s like an electric shock that has just coursed through their body and left them paralysed. Wait a few minutes because another seizure can occur soon after the first. 
6. After 10 or 15 minutes try to get the patient up and onto a couch or even a bed because they will fall into a deep sleep. 
7. Do not try to give them food or liquid of any kind as they will not be able to swallow. 
8. Let the person sleep but keep checking up on them every hour or so, or use a baby monitor so you can hear what’s going on with them. 
9. If the person has previously been diagnosed with epilepsy and more than one seizure occurs, notify emergency services immediately. (Please note that if it is the first time that a person has a seizure (undiagnosed), it is best to seek medical assistance immediately)

The patient may have a severe headache afterwards and a few injuries depending how they fell. Injuries can vary from a bump on the head to more severe head wounds. If this is the case activate your TrackBox app and help will arrive shortly. Tell the paramedics that the patient has had a seizure and they will asses the situation.

Minor seizures are known as petit mal or absence seizures. These don’t do much damage however they can be warning signs that a bigger seizure may be imminent.

Sometimes severe seizures can occur and the patient will collapse wherever they are and injure themselves on a table’s edge or a tiled floor, etc. These are called grand mal seizures. Petit mal seizures can lead to  a grand mal seizures. 

The patient will convulse and there will be mucous coming out of their mouth. These should never last more than 3 minutes. If they do then the patient is in critical danger as they may not be able to breathe properly. Turn them on their side, though this may be difficult and require a bit of effort. Secondly, put anything soft under the head such as pillows, teddy bears, jackets, backpacks, or even your own clothing bunched. Make sure no sharp objects are in these items. Please note that a patient will lose control of their bodily functions so they will sometimes wet themselves or vomit.

The most important thing to remember are:

1. NEVER put anything into their mouth.
2. Don’t put any fingers into their mouth or anything hard such as a spoon as they can end up biting it and breaking their own teeth and then swallowing bits of broken teeth.
3. Never try to restrain the patient with straps or your arms, they will end up hurting you because they have no control over their body.
4. Do not hold their hand – they can/will break it.

Once a person had a seizure they cannot drive legally for 2 years afterwards. They have to be seizure clear for 2 years minimum.

Once they wake up the next morning, or hours afterwards, they will not remember anything.

Don’t make them feel embarrassed about having a seizure because it does take a strike at their self dignity as they cannot control themselves.

There are no sure warning signs that a seizure is going to take place as each person is different.

Savannah(SA48)
TrackBox ERPC National & International
08616-TRACK
08616-87225
https://trackbox.world/
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