SEIZURES

• Brief episodes of disorderly electrical activity in the brain which affects its normal functions and produces changes in a person’s movements, behavior, or consciousness.

DID YOU KNOW?• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder

characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures

• about 2.7 million people in the U.S. have

some form of Epilepsy.• 200,000 new cases are reported each year.• 50% of people with epilepsy develop

seizures by age 25; however anyone can get epilepsy at any time.

• In 70% of cases, the cause is unknown.

TYPES OF SEIZURES

•Generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal)

•Myoclonic

•Atonic

•Absence

•Infantile spasms

•Simple partial

•Complex partial

ABSENCE SEIZURES

• Very brief, last only a few seconds, and look like a blank stare, or daydreaming. The person is completely unaware of his surroundings. They begin and end suddenly.

TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES

• Person blanks out, falls, stiffens, then jerks uncontrollably for a minute or two.

SEIZURE TRIGGERS• Missed or late medication• Stress and anxiety• Poor diet or missed meals• Lack of sleep or fatigue• Overheating or overexertion• Hormonal changes• Recreational drug use/abuse• Medication interactions• Hyperventilation• Flashing lights

Stay calmTime the seizureTurn student on their side if possibleCushion the headCall 911 if the student does NOT have a history of seizures, OR if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes OR if the student stops breathing

FIRST AIDFOR SEIZURES

HOW TO HELP• Move potentially harmful

objects away from student• DO NOT put anything in the

mouth • DO NOT try to hold student

down• Remove onlookers• As seizure ends, offer help

and assurance• Notify parents

AFTER THE SEIZURE• The time immediately after a seizure

is called the post-ictal phase.• During this time the person may be:

confused, lethargic, have sore muscles, be shaky, sweating or have an increased heart rate.

• This phase can last for a few minutes to several hours.

IN THE CLASSROOMo Be familiar with the needs of your students

with chronic illnesses.o Review their health care plans to be

prepared to assist in an emergency.o Document seizure activity (duration,

characteristics) in the student’s log attached to the health care plan.

o Be sure substitutes are aware of student’s health concerns

o Call your school nurse with specific questions

Resources• Epilepsy Foundation Northwest-

www.epilepsynw.org Spokane office (509) 325-1128

• Epilepsy Therapy Project www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy_therapy_project