How to Prevent Epilepsy: Seizure Precautions and Safety Tips

The Scientific World -January 05, 2022

A seizure is a single occurrence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain whereas epilepsy is a type of neurological disorder characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures. Here are seizure precautions and safety measures to prevent epilepsy.

A seizure is a single occurrence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain

Safety Precautions for Seizures: How to Prevent a Seizure When You Feel It Coming

People with specific conditions that make them sensitive to seizures, such as epilepsy, can take medications or have surgery to reduce the frequency and severity of their seizures.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures, sensations, and sometimes loss of consciousness. There are also several safety precautions that people can take to help ensure their safety and reduce the risk of severe complications if they have a seizure.

In this article, we have explained the precautions you need to take when you have seizures.

Continue reading to know better regarding seizure safeguards to take at home, as well as the precautions caretakers and family fellows can take to keep someone safe during a seizure.

What Exactly is a Seizure?

A seizure is a brief burst of abnormal electrical activity caused by complex chemical changes in brain nerve cells.

In most cases, the brain's cells that excite and inhibit other brain cells from sending electrical impulses are balanced.

There is a disruption in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory cells when someone has a seizure. This occurs when too much or too little activity occurs, resulting in an electrical surge and a seizure.

Seizures can be severe and cause various symptoms, including convulsions, loss of consciousness, and uncontrollable muscle jerking. Seizures can also be minor, with no noticeable symptoms other than muscle tics or twitches.

Seizures are symptoms of an underlying condition, not a disease or medical condition. Some individuals who have a seizure for no apparent reason may possess epilepsy and be inclined to recurrent seizures.

Read Here: The Most Common Neurological Disorders - Symptoms and Causes

What are the Home Safety Measures for People With Epilepsy?

At-home precautions to take

Seizure sufferers can take several precautions to help reduce the risk of injury.

These precautions vary depending on the activity.

In the kitchen

The following are some suggestions for preventing seizure injuries in the kitchen.

Cooking with someone else or having them nearby is a good idea.
Dishes, drinkware, and cookware should all be made of nonbreakable materials.
Carry hot foods and liquids as little as possible.
Use a microwave instead of other cooking methods because it is generally safer.
Turn the handles of the pots and pans towards the back of the stove.
When waiting for water to boil or pans to heat up, keep your distance from the stove.
Do not rely solely on kitchen appliances.
After using a kitchen appliance, please turn it off right away.
Rather than a grill with open flames or a gas stove, use an electric stove or grill.
When cooking, utilize the back burners of grills or stoves.

In the bathroom

The following are precautions to take in the bathroom.

Shower instead of bathing — the most common cause of death for people who have seizures is drowning in the bathtub.
When bathing, make sure someone is nearby or can hear if you have a seizure.
Use nonskid strips or a rubber mat on the shower or tub floor.
Use hairdryers, curling irons, and straighteners with a safety switch and turn them off automatically.
Keep the area around the toilet or sink free of clutter if possible.
When near water, avoid using electronic devices.
In the shower, take a seat in a chair or a seat.
Instead of a shower door, use a shower curtain.
Check that the bathroom doors open outward.
Make sure the drains are working correctly.
Instead of locking the bathroom door, use an indicator, such as a sign, to indicate that it is in use.
Instead of using a razor, use an electric shaver.

In the bedroom

The following are some precautions to take in the bedroom.

Keep nightstands, furniture, walls, and sharp or hard objects away from the bed.
While sleeping, wear a seizure alert monitor.
Sleep in a shared room or listen to someone having a seizure.
Electronic devices should be kept away from the bed.
Heating devices that can become hot, such as radiators, should be covered or isolated.

Household advice in general

The following are some general precautions to take in the home.

Avoid having a lot of stuff in your room.
Use pads to protect sharp corners on furniture and other objects.
Glass furniture and furnishings should be avoided.
Shatterproof, plastic, or safety glass should be used in windows and doors.
Toys, tools, and other items should not be left on the floor or in the walkways.
Do not rely solely on appliances or electric tools.
Use devices that have automatic shut-off safety switches.
Safety glass should be used to cover fireplaces.
Keep interior doors unlocked so that anyone who needs assistance during a seizure can get help quickly.
Avoid using heaters that can easily topple over, such as space heaters.
Use nonslip carpets instead of scattering rugs.
When drilling, nailing, grinding, cutting, or chopping, use power tools with safety guards.
Certain more oversized items, such as televisions, may fall.

Additional safeguards

Another necessary precaution that people should take is to learn and avoid seizure triggers, including:

Skipping meals,
Sleep deprivation,
Fatigue,
Alcohol,
Certain sounds.

Other situational measures for people with seizure disorders include the following.

Driving

Never drive while having a seizure or while the effects are still present.
Find out if it's legal to drive with seizure conditions — in many states, a person must be seizure-free for 3–12 months before going legally.
Go only if a doctor or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) advises you.
Notify the DMV if you have a seizure disorder or a history of seizures.

Swimming and being outside

Never swim alone or in bodies of water unless accompanied by a lifeguard or others.
When swimming or participating in water sports, wear a life jacket or other personal flotation device.
Keep a safe distance from open heat sources like fireplaces and campfires.
If your seizures are frequent or severe, you should think about wearing a protective helmet or other shielding gear.
Keep an eye out for potential environmental hazards such as bodies of water, railings, heights, or sharp objects.
Avoid climbing or using ladders, especially if you're alone. If climbing is unavoidable, use a safety harness.
Contact sports, skiing or snowboarding, skating, biking, or horseback riding are all examples of recreational activities that can result in serious injury if a seizure occurs.

Taking care of infants and young children

Babies and small children should not be bathed alone.
Sitting in the middle of a delicate piece of furniture, such as a bed, couch, or carpet, feed or change diapers or clothing of babies, infants, or young children.
Use a stroller to transport a baby or infant and limit the amount of time a person spends taking or holding a child.
If there are babies, infants, or young children in the house, babyproof it.

Family and caregiver precautions

People who have a family member, friend, roommate, or coworker who has seizures should know what to do in the event of a seizure.

The following are safety precautions for people who spend time with people who have seizures.

Place people are having seizures on their left side on the floor with a soft, small object under their neck, such as a pillow.
Remove any clothing around the neck or anything else that may be obstructing your breathing.
Remove any potentially dangerous objects from the area.
If someone appears to be wandering or confused, gently assist them in walking and limit access to other areas.
Pleasantly talk to the person and reassure them that everything is fine.
If possible, time the seizure and take notes on someone's symptoms and what they did when the seizure began.
Check for any obstructions in the person's airways to ensure they can breathe easily. Remove any obstacles present, but do not force the mouth or teeth to open. Gum, a retainer, food, or other objects that could fall into the airway and block it are examples of obstacles.

People who have seizures should make a seizure action plan and discuss it with people with whom they spend a lot of time knowing what to do if they have one.

Summary

People who have seizures or have a seizure disorder, such as epilepsy, should take several precautions to keep themselves safe and avoid serious injury during a seizure.

Seizures patients will also need to talk to others about protecting themselves. They should also talk about what people should do if they have a seizure.

If a person has their first seizure or seizures worsen and become more frequent, they should always seek medical help.