*Seizures and Epilepsy* (7826)
A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain. It usually affects how a person appears or acts for a short time.
- Some seizures are caused by conditions such as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) or a change to the way the heart is working
- Some very young children have ‘febrile convulsions’ (jerking movements) when they have a high temperature
These are not the same as an epileptic seizure, which is caused by a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain.
- There are many different types of epileptic seizure, and any of us could potentially have a single epileptic seizure at some point in our lives
NOTE: This is not the same as having epilepsy, which is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.
Generalised seizures
Generalised tonic clonic seizures (grand mal seizures) are the most common and best known type of generalized seizure.
- They begin with stiffening of the limbs (the tonic phase)
- Followed by jerking of the limbs and face (the clonic phase)
Watch this video to see the first aid treatment for a generalised seizure
Source: Epilepsy Action
Treatment of a generalised seizure:
- Protect the casualty from injury (remove harmful objects from nearby)
- Put something soft under their head if they're lying on the ground
- Loosen any tight clothing around their neck to aid breathing
- When their convulsions stop, turn them so that they're lying on their side
- Stay with them and talk to them calmly until they have recovered
- Note the time the seizure starts and finishes
- Call 999 for an ambulance if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
Important: Don’t try to keep the casualty still during the seizure or put anything in their mouth.
You should call 999/112 if:
- You know it’s the first time the casualty has had a seizure
- The seizure lasts for more than five minutes
- The casualty doesn’t regain full consciousness
- The casualty has a series of seizures without regaining consciousness
Focal and absence seizures
Focal and absence seizures look very different from a tonic clonic seizure a person having a focal seizure may not be aware of their surroundings or what they are doing.
- They may have unusual movements and behaviour such as plucking at their clothes, smacking their lips, swallowing repeatedly, or wandering around
- Someone having an absence seizure may appear to be daydreaming
- Absence seizures are common in children and often only last a few seconds.
- The casualty will often not realise it has happened
Treatment of focal or absence seizures:
- Guide the casualty away from danger (such as roads or open water)
- Stay with them until recovery is complete
- Keep calm and reassure the casualty
- Explain anything that they may have missed
- Don’t restrain them
- Don’t act in a way that could frighten them, such as making abrupt movements or shouting at them
- Don’t assume they are aware of what is happening or what has happened
- Don’t give them anything to eat or drink until they are fully recovered