SAFETY AND FIRST AID

• Nobody's life is ever entirely risk-free risk but a person with epilepsy who is experiencing seizures needs to learn to recognise potential dangers at home, at work, and during leisure activities. Being sensible and safety conscious does not mean letting epilepsy rule anyone's existence, but learning to foresee safety risks allows informed choices to be made which balance the need for safety against the right to independence.

• Most accidents happen in the home whether or not a person has epilepsy but to what extent the environment is adapted to reduce risks depends on how severe seizures are, how often they occur, and whether they occur during the day or at night.

• Water in the bathroom poses 2 risks during a seizure: scalds and drowning. Bathing in very hot water may trigger a seizure in some people- use a thermostat for bath water (no more than 50degrees Centigrade). Turn off the bath water before getting in the bath, keep the water shallow, and use a non slip mat in the bath.

• As most bathroom doors cannot be unlocked from the outside, keep the door unlocked so that people can come and give assistance if necessary. If privacy is a problem, an engaged sign or something similar will tell other people that the bathroom is in use. If living with other people, have a bath when they are at home if possible. A door is that opens outwards is good for safety as it will not be blocked if a seizure causes a fall.

• Showers are generally safer than baths but cold water should be run first and a shower curtain is a good alternative to a glass door which, if in use, should always be fitted with good quality shatter proof glass.

• In the toilet leave the door unlocked and devise another system to ensure privacy. Again, if possible, replace an inward opening door with a sliding or outward opening door.

• Choose a very low bed, without a headboard, and a soft carpet, particularly if seizures happen at night. Try to remove any hard or sharp surfaces from the bedroom and move bedside tables away from the bed as these can contribute to injury during a seizure. If worried, consider sleeping without a pillow or buy a special porous pillow that allows as much air as possible to pass through it.

• Avoid open fires, or, use a secured fireguard. Guards are also available for radiators. Consider buying fan or bar heaters that can be fixed high on a wall. Avoid trailing wires and flexes.

• Large expanses of glass must always be fitted with safety glass and putting furniture in front of big glass windows/doors is a good safety precaution. A soft carpet and furniture without sharp corners are also recommended.

• A microwave is safer than an ordinary cooker but if using a conventional hob, use the back burners, turn cooker handles towards the back of the cooker so it is less easy to knock them over, and consider buying a stove guard which fits around the top of the oven. Carry plates to the pan rather than vice versa.

• Cordless kettles and irons are safer as there are no trailing flexes.

• Use a power-breaker with electric tools or gadgets. Grass is safer in the garden than paving.

• If seizures are likely when out and about, consider carrying an identity card or wearing identification information such as a bracelet or necklace stating name, address and medical condition.

• A person who has frequent seizures may feel safer when wearing a helmet to protect the forehead, chin and head from injury. A helmet needs to be chosen in the right size otherwise there may not be enough protection.

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Published on: 2007-05-14 (3404 reads)