AROUND 250,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with epilepsy, and approximately 3.5 percent of the Australian population will experience this neurological disorder at some point in their lifetime.
On a global scale, more than 65 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it the world’s most common serious brain disorder. However, despite these statistics, epilepsy remains shrouded in mystery and misconceptions for much of the community.
Epilepsy Action Australia CEO, Carol Ireland said, “We believe having more friends, family members, colleagues and acquaintances knowing what to do if someone has a seizure will help make people with epilepsy feel more confident.
“This will mean they will be more secure in carrying on with their day-to-day lives, knowing that if they do have a seizure, someone will be able to help them.”
Seizure First Aid – Key Steps
- Stay with the person
- Keep them safe, removing anything that could hurt them
- Don’t try to restrain them
- Don’t put anything in their mouth
- Roll them onto their side once jerking/shaking subsides
- Reassure them until they have recovered
- Call an ambulance if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes
