Seizures

A seizure happens when a burst of electrical activity causes a chain reaction of cells in the brain to overreact.  The location of these cells and the number of cells involved determines how severe the seizure is and what symptoms the person will have.  Epilepsy is usually diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures that were not caused by some known condition like alcohol withdrawal or fever.

WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS DURING A SEIZURE

1. Something triggers abnormal activity in the brain. 
2. Many people experience an aura—or warning sign—shortly before a seizure begins. 
3. At this point, the actual seizure activity begins.  This may be barely noticeable—such as the twitching of a facial muscle.  Or, it may include full body convulsions.
4. After the seizure has ended, most people need some time to recover.  This is the postictal phase.
5. Some people experience reentry—meaning the seizure activity starts all over again. 

HELPING CLIENTS WHO HAVE SEIZURES

• If possible, help the person lie down on the floor or a flat surface and turn onto one side.  Loosen any clothing around the person’s neck.  Cushion the head with something soft.
• DON’T PUT ANYTHING IN THE PERSON’S MOUTH! 
• Make sure the person has plenty of room—with no dangerous objects nearby that could cause injury. 
• Stay calm and remain with the client throughout the seizure. 
• Watch the clock.  If the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or a second seizure starts right after the first one, call for immediate help.  Otherwise, after the seizure, help the person to a comfortable resting position, then report the incident to your supervisor and note the details in your documentation.
• Those details should include:
  
  • What time the seizure started.
  • What the client was doing at the time.  
  • Any safety measures you took for the client.  
  • The type of seizure activity involved and how long it lasted.
  • Any injuries the client suffered during the seizure.