Seizures

1. Seizures Everything you need to know for managing a student with Seizures and First Aid

2. What is a Seizure? • A Seizure is a condition of disturbed brain activity that causes changes in a person’s attention or behavior. • Seizures can be caused by a medical condition, brain injury or unknown cause. • Seldom associated with brain damage. • Epilepsy is a disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over a period of time

3. Seizure Facts • Seizures are a true medical problem • Most seizures are rarely life threatening, medical emergencies • Students are often NOT aware they are having a seizure and will not remember what happened • Epilepsy is NOT contagious • Epilepsy is NOT a form of mental illness • A student can NOT swallow his/her tongue during a seizure • NEVER put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure

4. Impact on Learning • Seizures may cause short-term memory problems • After a seizure, coursework may need to be re-taught • Seizure activity, without obvious physical symptoms, can still affect learning • Medications may cause drowsiness, inattention, concentration difficulties and behavioral changes • Student with epilepsy may suffer from low self-esteem • School difficulties are not always related to a student’s seizures

5. Symptoms • Seizures vary from person to person • Vary from simple staring spells to violent shaking and loss of alertness • Some people have an Aura or sense of impending seizure. • This sign may be tingling, dizziness, emotional changes, or changes in vision, taste and smell

6. Type of Seizure:Absent (Petit Mal) • May appear as a lack of alertness or staring spell • May black out. If so usually, lasts <15 seconds. • Can occur many times a day. • Interferes with school/learning.

7. Type of Seizure: Partial (focal): • No loss of consciousness. • May have muscle contractions that affect a side of the body • May have abnormal head movements. • May be changes in mood, behavior, or vision. • Staring spells may also occur

8. Type of Seizure:Generalized (Grand Mal) • Involves the whole body • Includes muscle rigidity • Followed by muscle contraction • Loss of consciousness. • May have a loss of bowel and bladder • May affect breathing. • Very high potential for injury!

9. First Aid for Seizures • Remain calm! (Easy to say, hard to do) • A seizure can not be stopped once it has started • Try to get student to lying down position. Side lying is ideal to protect airway. This position prevents the tongue from blocking the airway and helps reduce chance of choking on vomit or secretions. • Protect from injury-especially their head • Do NOT put any object in student’s mouth! • Loosen any tight fitting clothing, especially around the neck • Observe and document length of seizure and activity noted • Stay with student! Send other students away if possible to protect privacy • Support student’s airway and initiate rescue breathing/CPR if needed • Offer comfort and reassurance to student as he/she awakens from seizure activity • Notify Parents/Guardian • CALL 911 if: seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, no history of seizures, multiple seizures occur, of if pregnant, injured or diabetic

10. Diastat • Absorbed rapidly. • Will be ordered by Dr. for specific students. • Is a muscle relaxant • Must call 911 if given • Protect student privacy • Document time given. • Keep student lying on side • Monitor breathing

11. How to give Diastat • 1. Position Student on side. • 2. Gather supplies, Remove cap and lubricate syringe tip. • 3. Bend leg forward and separate buttocks to expose rectum. • 4. Slowly count to 3 while pushing plunger until it stops. • 5. Count to 3 before removing syringe. • 6. Hold buttocks together counting to 3 again. • 7. Leave person on side, continue to monitor.

13. Congratulations, you have almost completed your training for Seizure disorder. Please access the following link. • Seizures Training Confirmation