Seizure Recgnitin & First Aid 1
Objectives Recgnize cmmn seizure types and their pssible impact n individuals Knw apprpriate first aid Recgnize when a seizure is a medical emergency Prvide scial and academic supprt 2
What is a Seizure? A brief, excessive discharge f electrical activity in the brain that alters ne r mre f the fllwing: Mvement Sensatin Behavir Awareness 3
What is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a chrnic neurlgical disrder characterized by a tendency t have recurrent seizures Epilepsy is als knwn as a seizure disrder 4
Famus Peple with Epilepsy n Julius Caesar n Naplen Bnaparte n Charles Dickens n Agatha Christie n Truman Capte n Vincent Van Ggh n Beethven n Isaac Newtn n Richard Burtn n Danny Glver n Neil Yung 5
Did Yu Knw That Mst seizures are NOT medical emergencies Peple may NOT be aware they are having a seizure and may NOT remember what happened Epilepsy is NOT cntagius Epilepsy is NOT a frm f mental illness Epilepsy is NOT a frm f mental retardatin Peple almst never die r have brain damage during a seizure A persn CAN NOT swallw his/her tngue during a seizure 6
Did Yu Knw That Epilepsy can develp at ANY age 20% f cases develp befre the age f five 50% f cases develp befre the age f twenty-five Epilepsy currently affects abut 300,000 senir citizens natin wide By the age f twenty, 1% f the ppulatin can be expected t develp epilepsy By the age f 75, 3% f the ppulatin can be expected t have been diagnsed with epilepsy and 10% will have experienced sme type f seizure 7
Epilepsy is Mre Cmmn Than Yu Think Epilepsy & seizures affect ver 3 millin Americans f all ages 315,000 students in the United States Mre than 45,000 new cases are diagnsed annually in children Apprximately 200,000 new cases f seizures & epilepsy ccur each year 1 in 26 peple will develp epilepsy 1 in 10 peple will have a seizure in their lifetime Epilepsy is mre cmmn than Cerebral Palsy, Parkinsn s Disease and Multiple Sclersis cmbined 8
Cmmn Causes f Epilepsy Fr seventy percent (70%) f peple with epilepsy the cause is unknwn Fr the remaining thirty percent (30%) cmmn identifiable causes include: n n n n n n Brain Trauma Brain lesins (e.g. tumrs) Pisning (lead) Infectins f the brain (e.g. meningitis, encephalitis) Brain Injury at birth Abnrmal brain develpment 9
Seizure Types Generalized Seizures n Invlve the whle brain n n Cmmn types include absence & tnic-clnic Symptms may include cnvulsin, staring, muscle spasms and falls Partial Seizures n n n Invlve nly part f the brain Cmmn types include simple partial and cmplex partial Symptms relate t the part f the brain affected 10
Absence Seizures Pause in activity with blank stare Brief lapse f awareness Pssible blinking r chewing mtin Usually lasts 1 t 10 secnds May ccur many times a day May be cnfused with: n Day dreaming n Lack f attentin n ADD 11
Generalized Tnic-Clnic A sudden, harse cry Lss f cnsciusness A fall Cnvulsins (stiffening f arms & legs fllwed by rhythmic jerking) Pssible lss f bwel r bladder cntrl Occasinally skin, nails r lips may turn blue Generally lasts 1 t 3 minutes Usually fllwed by cnfusin, headache, tiredness, sreness, speech difficulty 12
First Aid Generalized Tnic-Clnic Seizure Stay calm and track time Check fr epilepsy/seizure disrder ID (bracelet r necklace) Prtect the persn frm pssible hazards (chairs, tables, sharp bjects, etc.) Turn persn n his/her side Cushin the head After the seizure, remain with the persn until awareness f surrundings is fully regained Prvide emtinal supprt Dcument seizure activity 13
Dangerus First Aid DO NOT put anything in the persn s muth during a seizure DO NOT hld the persn dwn r restrain them during the seizure DO NOT attempt t give ral medicatins, fd r drink during a seizure 14
When is a Seizure an Emergency? First time seizure (n medical ID and n knwn histry f seizures) Cnvulsive seizure lasting mre than 5 minutes Repeated seizures withut regaining cnsciusness Mre seizures than usual r change in type Persn is injured, has diabetes r is pregnant Seizure ccurs in water Nrmal breathing des nt resume Persn requests emergency evaluatin 15
Simple Partial Seizures n Full awareness maintained n Rhythmic mvements (islated twitching f arms, face, legs) n Sensry symptms (tingling, weakness, sunds, smells, tastes, feeling f upset stmach, visual distrtins) n Psychic symptms (déjà vu, hallucinatins, feelings f fear f anxiety, r a feeling they cannt explain) n Usually lasts less than ne minute n May be cnfused with: acting ut, mystical experiences r psychsmatic illness 16
Cmplex Partial Seizures Awareness is impaired/inability t respnd Often begins with blank dazed stare AUTOMATISMS (repetitive purpseless mvements) Clumsy r disriented mvements, aimless walking, picking things up, nnsensical speech r lip smacking Often lasts ne t three minutes Often fllwed by tiredness, headache r nausea Persn may becme cmbative if restrained May be cnfused with: n Drunkenness r drug abuse n Aggressive behavir n Mental illness 17
First Aid- Cmplex Partial Seizure Stay calm and reassure thers Track time Check fr medical ID D Nt Restrain Gently guide/direct away frm hazards D NOT expect the persn t bey verbal instructins Stay with the persn until fully alert and aware If seizure lasts 5 minutes beynd what is rutine fr that persn r if anther seizure begins befre full cnsciusness is regained, fllw emergency prtcl 18
Seizure Triggers r Precipitants Flashing lights and hyperventilatin can trigger seizures in sme individuals with epilepsy Factrs that might increase the likelihd f a seizure in smene with epilepsy include: n Missed r late medicatin (#1 reasn) n Stress/anxiety n Lack f sleep/fatigue n Hrmnal changes n Illness n Alchl r drug use n Drug interactins n Overheating/verexertin n Pr diet/missed meals 19
Impact n Learning & Behavir n Seizures may cause shrt-term memry prblems n Seizure activity, even withut physical symptms, may affect learning/memry n Anti-Seizure medicatins may cause drwsiness, inattentin, cncentratin difficulties and behavir changes n Peple with epilepsy may be mre likely t suffer frm lw self-esteem and/r md disrders 20
Available Treatments Anti-seizure medicatins n Currently we have mre than 20 medicatins t help cntrl seizures n Medicatins d nt CURE epilepsy, rather they help prevent r cntrl seizure activity n Medicatin side-effects vary by the individual n Nt all medicatins wrk fr all types f seizures 21
Vagus Nerve Stimulatr Device implanted just under the skin in the chest with wires that attach t the vagus nerve in the neck Delivers intermittent electrical stimulatin t the vagus nerve in the neck that relays impulses t widespread areas f the brain Used primarily t treat partial seizures when medicatin is nt effective Use f special magnet t activate the device may help student prevent r reduce the severity f an ncming seizure Individual may still require antiseizure medicatin 22
Available Treatments Epilepsy Surgery n Brain surgery t remve the small part f the brain where seizures begin r t interrupt the spread f electrical energy in the brain n Nt everyne is a candidate fr surgery Ketgenic Diet n Used primarily in children n Diet includes a very high fat cntent, n sugar and lw carbhydrate and prtein intake n It is a medical treatment NOT a fad diet 23
Diazepam Rectal Gel Used in acute r emergency situatins t stp a seizure that will nt stp n its wn Apprved by FDA fr use by parents and nn-medical caregivers State/schl district regulatins ften gvern use in schls 24
Tips fr Supprting a Persn with Epilepsy Stay calm during a seizure episde Be supprtive Talk penly abut epilepsy with the persn and learn abut their individual experiences Avid verprtectin and encurage independence Practice seizure recgnitin & first aid 25
Additinal Tips and Tpics Include the individual in as many activities as pssible Cmmunicate with parents abut child s seizure activity, behavir and learning prblems Help t reduce the stigma that is wrngly assciated with epilepsy by learning mre abut this disrder Becme an advcate 26
Cnvulsive Seizure in a Wheelchair D nt remve frm wheelchair unless abslutely necessary Secure wheelchair t prevent mvement Fasten seatbelt (lsely) t prevent student frm falling frm wheelchair Prtect and supprt head Ensure breathing is unbstructed and allw secretins t flw frm muth Pad wheelchair t prevent injuries t limbs Fllw relevant seizure first aid prtcl 27
Cnvulsive Seizure n a Schl Bus Safely pull ver and stp bus Place student n his/her side acrss the seat facing away frm the seat back (r in aisle if necessary) Fllw standard seizure first aid prtcl until seizure abates and child regains cnsciusness Cntinue t destinatin r fllw schl plicy 28
Cnvulsive Seizure in the Water Supprt head s that bth the muth and nse are always abve the water Remve the student frm the water as sn as it can be dne safely If the student is nt breathing, begin rescue breathing Always transprt the student t the emergency rm even if he/she appears fully recvered 29
Resurces Epilepsy Fundatin Luisiana n 225-298-5499/1-800-960-0587 n www.epilepsyluisiana.rg Epilepsy Fundatin (Natinal) n www.epilepsy.cm 30