2008 Woodie Awards
Seizures: how, why and what to do in case of an emergency
Mary-Jo Lomax / Special to La Voz
Issue date: 4/24/06 Section: Health
April 24, 2006
Recently, an instructor told me about his experience when a student had a seizure in his class. The student had told the instructor about his seizure disorder and explained what to do if he were to have a seizure while in class.
The student did have one in class and even though the instructor did all the right things, he felt uncomfortable and wondered if he handled the situation as well as he could have.
Many people feel inadequate in this situation, and perhaps learning a little more about these disorders will help prepare you if you ever encounter someone who is having a seizure.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by momentary, abnormal electrical activity in the brain that usually causes a change in behavior and sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.
About 2.7 million Americans have epilepsy. Not all people who have seizures have epilepsy.
Seizures are categorized as either partial or generalized, depending on how much and what area of the brain is involved.
Partial seizures are limited to a specific area of the brain and are the most common type.
Partial seizures can be either simple partial seizures where the person does not lose consciousness but he or she may not be able to speak or to move while having the seizure.
Complex partial seizures, also referred to as psychomotor seizures, occur when consciousness is either lost or impaired.
Generalized seizures involve both hemispheres of the brain and loss of consciousness occurs for varying lengths of time.
There are four types of generalized seizures: absence, atonic, myoclonic and tonic clonic.
Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, occur and end without warning and are characterized by lapses in awareness and either staring or blinking.
Atonic seizures are also known as drop attacks, astatic seizures or akinetic seizures.
This type of seizure causes loss of muscle tone that causes the person to fall with force.
Myoclonic seizures involve jerky movements of the hand or foot.
And finally, tonic clonic seizures, also known as grand mal seizures or convulsions, are the most common of the generalized seizures.
The name tonic clonic refers to the two phases of the seizure: the tonic phase involves stiffening of the limbs and the clonic phase entails jerking of the limbs and face.
As you can see, there are many types of seizures, each with its own characteristics and levels of intensity. Many people panic when they encounter someone who is having a seizure, especially when there is no warning, or if the seizure involves uncontrolled body movement.
In most cases, you don't need to have any special first aid training to help someone who is having a seizure.
The following are steps to follow if you encounter someone who is having a seizure.
The first step is to stay calm. Second, help prevent the person from injuring him or herself.
For example, move things that the person might hit if they are thrashing.
If the person is standing, you might want to help lower the person to the ground and place something under his or her head as a cushion and loosen any constricting clothing.
Do not try to restrain the person, and do not put anything in his or her mouth (it is a myth that the person having a seizure will swallow his or her tongue).
You should move his or her head to the side to allow an unobstructed airway or in case he or she vomits. Keep other people away.
Once the seizure is over, be sensitive and reassuring to the person and stay with him or her until he or she feels ready to get up.
If you are on campus, you can walk the person to Student Health Services where he or she can rest. Health Services is located in the lower level of the Campus Center. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, it is important to call for medical help.
If you are on campus, call either Campus Police (911 from a campus phone, not a cell phone) or Health Services (408-864-8732).
The Epilepsy Foundation(http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org) is a great resource to learn more about seizures.
Mary-Jo Lomax is a health educator at De Anza College. For more information, visit the Health Center in the Hinson Campus Center.
Recently, an instructor told me about his experience when a student had a seizure in his class. The student had told the instructor about his seizure disorder and explained what to do if he were to have a seizure while in class.
The student did have one in class and even though the instructor did all the right things, he felt uncomfortable and wondered if he handled the situation as well as he could have.
Many people feel inadequate in this situation, and perhaps learning a little more about these disorders will help prepare you if you ever encounter someone who is having a seizure.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by momentary, abnormal electrical activity in the brain that usually causes a change in behavior and sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms and loss of consciousness.
About 2.7 million Americans have epilepsy. Not all people who have seizures have epilepsy.
Seizures are categorized as either partial or generalized, depending on how much and what area of the brain is involved.
Partial seizures are limited to a specific area of the brain and are the most common type.
Partial seizures can be either simple partial seizures where the person does not lose consciousness but he or she may not be able to speak or to move while having the seizure.
Complex partial seizures, also referred to as psychomotor seizures, occur when consciousness is either lost or impaired.
Generalized seizures involve both hemispheres of the brain and loss of consciousness occurs for varying lengths of time.
There are four types of generalized seizures: absence, atonic, myoclonic and tonic clonic.
Absence seizures, also known as petit mal seizures, occur and end without warning and are characterized by lapses in awareness and either staring or blinking.
Atonic seizures are also known as drop attacks, astatic seizures or akinetic seizures.
This type of seizure causes loss of muscle tone that causes the person to fall with force.
Myoclonic seizures involve jerky movements of the hand or foot.
And finally, tonic clonic seizures, also known as grand mal seizures or convulsions, are the most common of the generalized seizures.
The name tonic clonic refers to the two phases of the seizure: the tonic phase involves stiffening of the limbs and the clonic phase entails jerking of the limbs and face.
As you can see, there are many types of seizures, each with its own characteristics and levels of intensity. Many people panic when they encounter someone who is having a seizure, especially when there is no warning, or if the seizure involves uncontrolled body movement.
In most cases, you don't need to have any special first aid training to help someone who is having a seizure.
The following are steps to follow if you encounter someone who is having a seizure.
The first step is to stay calm. Second, help prevent the person from injuring him or herself.
For example, move things that the person might hit if they are thrashing.
If the person is standing, you might want to help lower the person to the ground and place something under his or her head as a cushion and loosen any constricting clothing.
Do not try to restrain the person, and do not put anything in his or her mouth (it is a myth that the person having a seizure will swallow his or her tongue).
You should move his or her head to the side to allow an unobstructed airway or in case he or she vomits. Keep other people away.
Once the seizure is over, be sensitive and reassuring to the person and stay with him or her until he or she feels ready to get up.
If you are on campus, you can walk the person to Student Health Services where he or she can rest. Health Services is located in the lower level of the Campus Center. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, it is important to call for medical help.
If you are on campus, call either Campus Police (911 from a campus phone, not a cell phone) or Health Services (408-864-8732).
The Epilepsy Foundation(http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org) is a great resource to learn more about seizures.
Mary-Jo Lomax is a health educator at De Anza College. For more information, visit the Health Center in the Hinson Campus Center.
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