Seizures & Epilepsy
Seizures & Epilepsy
A seizure is caused by a sudden, uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain. This uncoordinated electrical activity causes changes in muscle control and general awareness. The seizure can affect a focused area of the brain or be more generalised, affecting the entire brain.
Symptoms can be as simple as a period of absence, where the person can stare blankly and not be alert (an absence seizure) to convulsive seizures. These seizures result in initial stiffening of the muscles and violent jerking movements leading to total loss of bodily control.
Epilepsy is just one cause of seizures – others include lack of oxygen to the brain, cardiac arrest, head injury or raised body temperature. A seizure in a small child or infant can be a Febrile convulsion caused by a raised temperature.
Signs & Symptoms
- Some casualties experience an ‘aura’ sensation before a seizure. Someone who has experienced seizures before might therefore be aware that they are about to have one.
- Initial stage – the body becomes rigid and the casualty falls. The casualty’s back may then arch and there may be blueness at the lips.
- Second stage – limbs start to jerk, eyes might roll back, and the teeth might clench with saliva coming out of the mouth. The casualty might lose some bowel and/or bladder control.
- Recovery stage – following the convulsions the casualty will likely remain unresponsive for a few minutes, with responsiveness gradually returning. The casualty might feel tired.
Treatment
- Assist the casualty to the floor.
- Try to find out if it has happened before (medical alert bracelet or someone who may know the person).
- Remove any danger, for example furniture or hard objects nearby.
- Loosen tight clothing around the neck, never put anything in the casualty’s mouth or try to restrain the casualty.
- Protect the head with your hands or fold up a coat or towel to place by the side of the head.
- Time the seizure duration.
- Check airway & breathing after the seizure, use the recovery position if they are unconscious.
- Call 999/112 if:
- It is the first seizure they have had.
- The seizure is over 5 minutes duration.
- The casualty has repeated seizures.
- Any injuries have been sustained.
- They haven’t regained consciousness.
