Around 80,000 people in Switzerland are affected by epileptic seizures. These can take very different forms and can have a threatening effect. Many people do not know how to react correctly in a serious situation. The health tip explains what you should and should not do.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a complex neurological condition. Sufferers experience episodes of temporary brain dysfunction, which are known as epileptic seizures. There are many different types of seizures, however. The most well-known is the tonic-clonic seizure, also known as a grand mal seizure, in which sufferers lose consciousness, fall to the ground and start convulsing uncontrollably.
Although this kind of seizure usually passes quickly and looks worse than it really is, it can be extremely stressful and overwhelming for unsuspecting onlookers. The good news is that providing first aid for an epileptic seizure is easier than you’d think.
Signs of a seizure
The symptoms of an epileptic seizure can vary significantly. The signs that someone is experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure are as follows:
- Falling to the floor without warning
- Salivating and breathing rapidly
- Not breathing for a brief period of time, accompanied by blue discolouration of the lips
- Muscle twitching or stiffness throughout the entire body
- Involuntary urination
What should you do?
- If possible, catch the person as they fall, and lay them down.
- Clear the area to prevent them from hitting surrounding objects during the seizure.
- Put something soft under their head, take off their glasses, and loosen any tight clothing around their neck.
Keep calm. Most seizures last one or two minutes, but they can sometimes stop after just a few seconds. Call the emergency services if the seizure lasts longer than three minutes, the person has injured themselves, or more seizures occur.
What should you not do?
- Do not attempt to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation during the seizure
- Do not give the person anything to drink
- Do not attempt to prevent the seizure by restraining the person or holding them up
- Do not insert any objects between the person’s teeth, as this can injure their airways
Not every seizure is a sign of epilepsy
Not every person who experiences an epileptic seizure suffers from epilepsy. Epilepsy is when at least two seizures occur within 24 hours of each other, spontaneously and with no apparent cause. Further information can be found on the website of the Swiss League Against Epilepsy.
