Have you ever watched a medical drama and seen a patient suffering a seizure? Would you know what to do if someone was having one right in front of you? According to www.epilepsyfoundation.org, about three million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of epilepsy, now commonly known as a seizure disorder. two hundred thousand cases are diagnosed each year. One in 10 people will have a seizure.
There are many types of seizures a person can have such as grand maul, where the person’s whole body shakes, and petite maul, where the person only shakes partially. While most causes of seizures are not known other causes could be a head injury, lead poisoning or brain tumors. Some seizure triggers include stress, lack of sleep, hormone fluctuations and photo sensitivity. Although there is currently no cure, there are a variety of medications to help control the seizures that the patient has.
Here is what to do if you ever see someone having a seizure: Make sure the person is laying down and their head will not hit anything and remove glasses if they have any. Try to stay calm and time the seizure with a watch or clock. Loosen any tight clothing the person might be wearing. Do not put anything in their mouth, a person having a seizure cannot swallow their tongue. Do not hold them down. Look for any medical ID. As soon as the seizure ends offer help.
If the person having the seizure is wearing a medical I.D. bracelet saying that he or she suffers from the disorder then you do not have to call an ambulance. You should call the number that is on their bracelet. If the person is not wearing a bracelet and has never had a seizure before or suffers from other medical conditions, an ambulance should be called. More information can be found at www.epilepsyfoundation.org.