How to Care for Seizures at Home
Home care of someone with epilepsy varies depending on the frequency and type of seizures. It is important for the person to take anticonvulsant medication regularly to prevent seizures.
When a seizure occurs, an observer should use common sense to prevent injuries:
Understanding Seizures -- the Basics
A seizure occurs when there’s abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures may go virtually unnoticed. Or, in severe cases, they may produce a change or loss of consciousness and involuntary muscle spasms called convulsions. Seizures usually come on suddenly and vary in duration and severity. A seizure may be a one-time event, or you may have seizures repeatedly. Recurrent seizures are called epilepsy, or seizure disorder. Less than one in 10 people who has a seizure develops epilepsy. Experts...
Read the Understanding Seizures -- the Basics article > >
- Cushion the person's head.
- Loosen any tight neckwear.
- Turn the person on his or her side.
- Do not hold the person down or restrain the person.
- Do not place anything in the mouth or try to pry the teeth apart. The person is not in danger of swallowing his or her tongue.
- Observe seizure characteristics -- length, type of movements, direction of head or eye turning. These characteristics may help the doctor diagnose the type of seizure.
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