Frequently Asked Questions and Useful Links
A brief, strong surge of abnormal electrical activity affects part or all of the brain, which leads to transient symptoms and signs from convulsions and loss of consciousness to more subtle symptoms such as blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs. It can occur due to provoking factors, such as fever, infection, alcohol, drugs, certain medications, or other medical conditions.
Chronic/two or more recurrent unprovoked seizures from an underlying neurologic condition.
When providing seizure first aid for generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures, these are the key things to remember:
- Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby.
- Don’t hold the person down or try to stop his movements.
- Time the seizure with your watch.
- Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.
- Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult.
- Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head.
- Turn him or her gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear.
- Do not try to force the mouth open with any hard implement or with fingers. A person having a seizure CANNOT swallow his tongue. Efforts to hold the tongue down can injure teeth or jaw.
- Don’t attempt artificial respiration except in the unlikely event that a person does not start breathing again after the seizure has stopped.
- Stay with the person until the seizure ends naturally.
- Be friendly and reassuring as consciousness returns.
- Offer to call a taxi, friend or relative to help the person get home if he seems confused or unable to get home by himself.
An uncomplicated, generalized, tonic clonic (grand mal) seizure in someone who has epilepsy is not a medical emergency even though it may look like one. The seizure will stop naturally after a few minutes without ill effects. The average person is able to continue about his business after a rest period, and may need only limited or no assistance in getting home.
In other circumstances, an ambulance should be called. Also, when the following conditions exist, immediate medical attention is necessary: diabetes, brain infections, heat exhaustion, pregnancy, poisoning, hypoglycemia, high fever, and head injury.
No Need to Call an Ambulance if:
- A medical I.D. jewelry or card says “epilepsy,” and
- The seizure ends in under five minutes, and
- Consciousness returns without further incident, and
- There are no signs of injury, physical distress, or pregnancy.
An Ambulance Should Be Called if:
- The seizure has happened in water.
- There’s no medical I.D., and no way of knowing whether the seizure is caused by epilepsy.
- The person is pregnant, injured, or diabetic.
- The seizure continues for more than five minutes.
- A second seizure starts shortly after the first has ended.
- Consciousness does not start to return after the shaking has stopped.
- The person has been injured as a result of the seizure
If the ambulance arrives after consciousness has returned, the person should be asked whether the seizure was associated with epilepsy and whether emergency room care is wanted.
Please visit www.epilepsy.com for more information.
Please visit the Epilepsy Foundation website to view driving laws by state.