On January 20, 2009—in the midst of the Congressional luncheon in honor of President Barack Obama’s inauguration—Senator Ted Kennedy had a seizure and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The witnesses to the event were described by reporters as “frightened,” “confused,” and “disturbed” by the event, and most appeared not to know what to do to help. To an extent, it is normal to feel paralyzed in the face of any medical emergency, but the response to Senator Kennedy’s collapse also highlights an important public health issue, both for those living with epilepsy (who number over 3 million in the United States) and those who may have only one seizure in a lifetime. Our awareness of seizure first aid is woefully limited, a deficit that needlessly heightens the risks victims face and the fear that onlookers experience.
Compare, for instance, our general understanding of two other, common medical crises: choking and heart attack. Both are situations to which the public has been repeatedly instructed to respond in clear-cut ways: Five Blows to the Back then the Heimlich maneuver for choking and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for instances of heart failure or failure to breathe. Both interventions are publicized through posters in many public spaces; in some cities and states, laws mandate such public notices. In the case of CPR and choking first aid, opportunities for instruction are available to the public, usually at very low cost.
What to do in the face of a seizure is less well understood, in part because seizures remain a mystery to most people, and, for many, a source of fear and even disgust. When my daughter was diagnosed with seizures as an infant, my mother confided to me that her distress over the diagnosis was shaped, in part, by her experience as a child, witnessing a classmate have a tonic-clonic (formerly called grand mal) seizure. The total loss of control and consequent vulnerability, the violence of the event (the classmate’s seizure involved rapid shaking or “convulsions”), and the seeming impossibility of stopping the event, was terrifying. It is understandable why such fears exist. It makes little sense, however, not to do more to ease those fears.
A seizure can strike at any time, and it can happen to anyone. It is a biological medical event and not a danger to others. People having seizures require assistance, and they deserve dignity and protection in the midst of their vulnerability. It is our shared responsibility to learn how to respond with calmness, compassion, and efficiency. Numerous epilepsy groups, including the American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation, are striving to dramatically increase public awareness about how to care for a seizure victim, advocating that communities post response protocols in schools, libraries, and other public spaces. The goal is, first and foremost, to encourage the public’s rapid response to what is a serious, but only rarely, life-threatening situation. But it will also, we hope, begin to familiarize people with seizures and diminish fear over these events.
Seizure-Response Protocols:
Generally, the rules of thumb for seizure-care are “the 4 C’s”: Calm, Clear, Comfort, and Call. Maintain a calm frame of mind, clear the area of anything that may injure the person having the seizure, comfort the person, and call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or is followed immediately by another seizure, or if the person is injured, having trouble breathing, pregnant, or having a seizure for the first time.
What follows are more specific descriptions of what to expect and what to do in the event of a seizure:
Convulsive Seizure
Also known as a tonic-clonic seizure, formerly referred to as a grand mal seizure.
At the start of the seizure the person may cry out, then usually stiffens and falls. His or her arms and legs may jerk or twitch. The person will have no awareness of you or what is happening. Seizures generally last a few minutes, but can sometimes go on for much longer. During the seizure the person may become very pale.
DO:
* Gently lay the person on their side. Make the person comfortable and put something soft under his or her head if you can.
* Clear a space around the person, moving objects away that might be harmful. Only move the person if he or she is in a dangerous place like by a fire, on the road or in water.
* Pay attention to the length of the seizure; most convulsions last no longer than 2-3 minutes. If the seizure continues longer than 5 minutes, call 911.
* If the person is injured, pregnant, or it is suspected that this is a first time seizure, call 911.
* If there are other people around, explain what you are doing, reassure them if necessary and keep them away from the person having the seizure.
* Loosen any tight neckwear and remove eyewear and high heel shoes if necessary.
* If possible while keeping an eye on the person, check for medical bracelet or other personal information in a bag that may indicate protocols for emergencies.
DO NOT:
* Do not put anything into the person’s mouth; it is impossible for a person to
swallow his or her tongue.
* Do not try to hold the person down.
* Do not try to wake the person up; he or she will come to in time.
* Do not give the person anything to drink or eat until you are sure he or she is fully awake.
At the End of a Seizure:
* Convulsing will stop, the person usually takes a deep breath, coloration should return to normal, awareness will slowly return. The person is often confused and disoriented. He or she may well be wet or soiled, and may find it impossible not to fall asleep, for a seizure can be exhausting.
* Talk to the person quietly, explain what happened and where he or she is.
* Until recovered, the person should continue to lie on his or her side. There is a slight chance that the person may vomit after the seizure, before he or she is fully recovered. Keep the head turned to prevent the inhalation or swallowing of vomit.
* Stay with the person until you are certain that he or she is okay.
When to Call an Ambulance:
If one seizure runs into another, or if the person has not woken up after five minutes, is having trouble breathing, is injured, is pregnant, or it is suspected that this is a first-time seizure, call 911.
Non-Convulsive Seizure
During this type of seizure the person may just seem blank and will not be able to speak or answer questions normally. He or she may act in an odd way, chewing or smacking lips, saying odd unexpected things or fiddling with clothes or buttons. A person having a minor seizure may appear drunk, drugged, or disturbed, but minor seizures may come on suddenly and last only a short time (a few minutes).
DO:
* Gently protect the person from obvious dangers (like wandering into a busy road).
* Pay attention to the length of the seizure; if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, call 911.
* Keep other people away.
* Talk to the person quietly.
* Remember that the person may be dazed or confused once the seizure is over.
* Very rarely, the person may become agitated. If so, do not obstruct the person. Instead, wait nearby and observe closely, intervening only if necessary.
* Stay with the person until you are sure he or she can get home. At the end of a minor attack it is not unusual for a person to have a major seizure, so it is important that the person be accompanied by someone else until in a safe place.
DO NOT:
* Do not try to stop the attack or aggressively restrain the person.
