First Aid Options for Break Through Seizures
First Aid Steps for Breakthrough Seizures include:
Identifying the Signs of a Possible Seizure
The following are the most common signs of possible seizure activity:
- Brief staring spells (5-10 seconds)
- Periods of confusion
- Head dropping
- Sudden loss of muscle tone
- Episodes of rapid blinking, or of the eyes rolling upwards
- Inappropriate movements of the mouth or face, accompanied by a blank expression
- Aimless, dazed behavior, including walking or repetitive movements that seem inappropriate to the environment
- Involuntary jerking of an arm or leg
- Not all of these signs occur every time or with every seizure.
Basic Seizure First Aid
If you think someone is having a seizure, the following basic first aid is helpful:
- Stay calm
- Ease person to floor
- Loosen any neckwear
- Cushion head
- Do not restrain or hold the person down
- Do not put anything in the person's mouth
- Clear immediate area of any furniture or other objects that may cause injury
- After seizure subsides, roll person onto their side. If person turns blue, stops breathing, or begins to vomit, immediately roll the person onto their side.
- When person regains consciousness, talk gently to them and stay with them until they are well enough to return to their usual activities.
Emergency Medical Assistance, if necessary
Although most seizures end naturally without emergency treatment, a seizure in someone who does not have epilepsy could be a sign of serious illness. Call for medical assistance if:
- Seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
- No "epilepsy/seizure disorder" I.D.
- Slow recovery, a second seizure, or difficult breathing afterwards
- Pregnancy or other medical I.D.
- Any signs of injury.
Brought to you by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, North America.
Copyright 2007. D867-3037