FIRST AID FOR SOMEONE HAVING A SEIZURE:
So you all probably know that should you see someone having a seizure, the first things you need to do are to stop their limbs from flailing, put something in their mouth to stop them swallowing their tongue, and call an ambulance, right? Wrong. Very, very wrong. Not only should you never put something in the mouth of someone having a seizure (they wonât swallow their tongue, promise!), but neither should you try to stop their limbs from flailing. Doing so can, and most likely will, lead to serious injury on the part of the incapacitated person. On a further note, and perhaps most surprising to a lot of you, the chances are that you really donât need to call an ambulance either! In fact, pretty much the only instances wherein you need to call an ambulance for someone whoâs having a seizure are the following:
-You know that this is their first seizure.
-They have caused themselves an injury whilst seizing.
-The seizure lasts for longer than five minutes.
-The person has had two or more seizures without gaining consciousness between instances.
If you do come across someone having a seizure, your first points of call are as follows:
-Move away from them anything which might cause them harm.
-Cushion their head if possible (but DO NOT attempt to stop it from moving!)
-Loosen tight clothing around the neck area i.e. tie/collar.
-Do not allow a crowd to form around the person; this can make the situation seem much worse for the affected individual.
-Stay with them and talk to them calmly and reassuringly. In fact, even once they come around, there is a stage of the seizure process known as the post-ictal phase, which might last anything up to a couple of hours, during which the person may remain confused/upset. They may well need someone to stay with them during this time as well, so be prepared for this.
-Monitor the amount of time they are seizing for: any longer than five minutes puts them at risk of status epilepticus, a hugely serious issue which can result in brain damage or even death, so call an ambulance if this is the case.
Of course, this information mainly applies to tonic-clonic seizures wherein the limbs are jerking, the person is unconscious for any period, etc. If you read my earlier post, youâll realise that this isnât always the case. Different types of seizure require different types of medical attention. For further info, check out the link attached to this post.
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