Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
I wrote this important thread, please read if you can and boost for visibility. :boost_ok:
Here's how to react if someone is having a generalized tonic-clonic seizure in front of you!
Different situations are taken into account to give as much info as possible.
Maggie Maybe
@Testoceratops if they don’t have a medical alert bracelet, and you don’t know why they are having a seizure, please don’t wait five minutes to call for help.
My brother was a type one diabetic who would have seizures if his blood sugar got too low, at that point it’s way less than 50 and the only way to save him is to get glucose in him. The seizure will stop but then he will go into a coma if he doesn’t get glucose.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If the person isn't alone and you're told the person is known for having seizures and you don't have anything to do except wait, don't do anything.
Personally, I'm stressed when someone stays because I hear noises even if I can't understand or identify the sounds, but it depends on everyone.
Don't panic and don't let people come close.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If the person is alone and doesn't have a medical safety helmet, your priority should always be to protect the head first.
Put a pillow or clothes under their head without holding it. If you don't have anything, put your hand on the ground to limit the damages. Once again, don't hold any part of the body!
Check if nothing's making the person suffocate and secure the space around them.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
Look at their wrists asap to see if they have a bracelet. If they're epileptic, there's a chance they have one with instructions to follow and a number to call.
Really important element: look at what time it is precisely as fast as you can after protecting the head if it's been needed.
If nothing's indicated and the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes or if the person is hurt, call the ER immediately.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
and how sorry she was.
I understand that.
If I use this example, it's just to mention that at least since you read this thread, you won't make this kind of mistake.
So I'm mentioning it again: no physical contact and no stimulus in general during a seizure, don't hold any part of the body.
It wasn't her fault and I know she did her best, just saying in case she finds this thread!
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If the person is unconscious after the seizure, check their pulse and breathing.
If everything's ok, wait for a bit. If they don't wake up within ten minutes, call the ER if nothing else is indicated.
Important thing to know: after a seizure, many folks just fall asleep. A seizure is really exhausting.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If someone is having a seizure on the road, try calling out passerby to block the area where the person is until they're able to move by themselves.
Moving a person during a seizure is extremely dangerous and raises the risk of hurting them.
Don't do it unless it's vital (around a fire for example)
If you have to do it, you must be very cautious and move without any rough movement.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
In general, you most likely won't need to call the ER. If the person is known for being epileptic / having some different kind of seizure and nothing unusual happened during this one, it's not necessary.
However, if it's their first seizure, it would be safer to see a doctor soon to check it up and make sure it's not a symptom of something else.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
It's very important to know what to do during a seizure, because it can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone.
Witnessing a generalized tonic-clonic eizure for the first time can be impressive.
That makes me think of one nurse at the sleep clinic.
She came into my room and put the lights on, which triggered 3 seizures. She's been crying a lot, holding my hand, telling me she didn't know what to do
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
A person having a seizure CAN'T swallow their tongue.
Lots of people believe this, yet it's not true and really dangerous.
You should NEVER put your fingers or anything else in their mouth!
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
Stay with them until the end of the seizure, without any other contact.
I know it's different for everyone, but in my case I just want to say that hearing stuff like "breathe, it's gonne be ok" is more stressful than anything. It doesn't help, I can't control.
Of course other people can find it reassuring, it really depends!
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
Anyway, if someone you know is dealing with seizures, ask them what's appropriate to do in case one happens while you're around.
It's always better to know in advance, if that's possible!
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
Then, when the seizure is done, don't try to make them get up asap.
That could lead to a new seizure, so be careful. They need time.
You can ask if they need anything, you just have to follow and respect what they say.
After a seizure, I stay down for a while, then my fiancee helps me sit a bit longer and then she helps me get up. Don't do it in a hurry.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If they're confused, help them get their landmarks back slowly.
If you see them falling again after standing up, try to accompany the fall to make it softer. Avoid any unnecessary or gripping move.
The priority always remains the head safety.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
The recovery position is often the first thing people think about, but way often it's better not to do it. Here's why.
In my case, moving me on the side compresses my rib cage, preventing me from breathing and making the seizure last longer.
Don't forget that a chronically ill person often has underlying conditions.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
Avoid stimulus as much as possible, as it's triggering seizures to lots of person and could make it last longer or begin a second seizure.
You have to know that many people don't faint during a seizure. So a simple gesture could been seen as an aggression attempt. Don't do any useless move.
Burn This Dyspho Out 🏳️⚧️
If you see a store sign or something close with really bright colors or flashing lights, find a position so that your body can hide it and the person doesn't see it anymore.
It can eventually help prevent another seizure or make this one shorter. It's the most effective thing to do in this case.
It's easy to do, but most people don't think about it, so please keep this in mind!
GNU social JP is a social network, courtesy of GNU social JP管理人. It runs on GNU social, version 2.0.2-dev, available under the GNU Affero General Public License.
All GNU social JP content and data are available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.