There are certain conditions that can invade your body and can cause some strange disturbance throughout. Our job is to make you recognize such conditions and minimize their impact. Let’s walk you through one such condition, its effects, and ways to overcome the same.
What is a seizure?
A seizure is an involuntary electrical disturbance in the brain triggered by a burst of excess electrical activity resulting in episodes of convulsions or loss of consciousness.
*In children, seizures can also be triggered by fever.
What to do when you come across a casualty having a seizure?
Follow these simple steps to provide some relief to the casualty experiencing seizure:
STEP 1: CLEAR SPACE
Try to remove any sort of objects around the casualty. Also, place some padding so that the casualty cannot injure himself in case of a fall. These things would break the fall and prevent damage.
STEP 2: PROTECT THE CASUALTY’S HEAD
Head injuries can be more severe than we think. So, pay special attention to protect the casualty’s head with some cushions or soft support.
STEP 3: CHECK FOR EPILEPSY
Once convulsions have ceased, check the casualty’s neck, arms, or pockets for any ID describing her medical condition. This would help to know about the seriousness of the situation.
STEP 4: PLACE IN RECOVERY POSITION
If the casualty falls asleep, open his airway, and check the breathing. If you find him breathing, immediately place him in the recovery position.
*Make a NOTE of how long the convulsions lasted for better understanding in later stages of treatment.
STEP 5: MONITOR THE CASUALTY
Keep a regular check of the casualty’s level of consciousness, breathing, and pulse.
-> Call for emergency services if you observe the situation getting worse. Make sure to stay beside the patient at all times till the arrival of medical aid.
DO’s and DON’Ts to keep in mind while encountering such a situation
- DO stay calm and follow the above steps effectively.
- DON’T restrain the casualty or make an aggressive attempt to bring him round.
- DON’T try to put anything inside the casualty’s mouth.
- DON’T frighten the casualty by shouting or making abrupt movements.
- DON’T give him anything to eat or drink until he has been completely recovered.
Identifying when to call for emergency services
- If you are aware that it’s the casualty’s first seizure.
- If the seizure continues for more than 5 minutes.
- If the casualty remains unconscious for more than 10 minutes following the seizure.
- If the person gets injured during the seizure.
- If there are multiple seizures without the person gaining consciousness.
Conclusion
Although seizures are more common than people think, any sort of carelessness can lead to bigger health hazards as well. So it’s better to analyze your situation well and take prompt actions for the same. Following the steps mentioned above, you can give a huge relief to the casualty and he can be saved from unwanted damage.
