Seizure Monitor & Seizure Mat
I wanted to share our experiences with two pieces of equipment: the EMFIT seizure monitor and a new seizure mat available online.
The EMFIT is a very nice piece of equipment, and it was immediately apparent that this would be an excellent tool for many people: it will definitely alert to any tonic-clonic activity, and will certainly detect if someone has left a bed (if the settings are properly configured). I strongly encourage any family who struggles with any of these issues to try the EMFIT; the lovely people there (particularly Christine Ocean) will work out a very reasonable payment plan and trial periods that make it easy to give this system a try.
Because my daughter has spasms and clonic seizures, the system did not work for us; the parameters for detecting movement simply couldn’t catch the very tiny movements she made, or the loss of tone that marks her most serious seizure. Christine has indicated that the company is working on ways to address this seizure type, but it is still in the works.
We HAVE had great success with another product–a Safety Place Mat from SeizureSupport.com ( http://www.seizuresupport.com/products.htm ). Here is what they say about the need for this product:
Millions are affected by seizures. Head injuries, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy and unfortunately many more situations have a major and often uncontrollable symptom of seizures. If you’re reading this then you probably already know seizures can happen at any second with no warning.
Like many people living with seizures for whatever reason, tables and desk corners cause many injuries to the head and face. Often time these injuries require medical attention and compound the situation. Unfortunately, many injuries occur while…
in the physician’s office,
at the hospital,
in our schools,
in our work place,
sitting at the dinner table,
sitting at a desk,
where children do their homework,
sitting at the computer and even….
while sitting in a wheel chair!
Many people not affected by seizure syndrome may not understand the damage seizures can cause to a patient even while sitting down but the stitches and scars don’t lie!
In some situations physicians many times will prescribe head guards but unfortunately these very often do not offer protection for areas of the forehead, face and chin.
What they offer as a solution is a “safety place mat” to put on a hard surface to protect a person from injury in the event of a seizure. The mat is made from very sturdy but soft and flexible material; it has a nice bit lip that fits over the corner of a table (those corners are the most dangerous!); and it comes in bright colors. Best of all, it’s really affordable: about $60 with regular UPS shipping.
We have been using one for Josie all summer and have been so pleased–it protects her, and it allows us to relax when we are out at restaurants or friends’ houses, where she can’t sit in her Wombat chair. (We also use a special tomato brand booster seat to adapt regular dining chairs). I am ordering one for her to have at school, as well.
