If a citizen is concerned about a person who has convulsed or becomes unconscious, they will dial 9-1-1 immediately. Too many emergency medical service (EMS) personnel don’t know how to treat a person suffering from a seizure.
Seizures can lead to confusion and inability to communicate. They may also become confused and not be able respond to requests or questions. Epilepsy sufferers can be put at risk by forceful restraints such as hog-tying and facedown holds. Tragically, epilepsy sufferers who experienced a seizure have died because first responders failed to recognize the symptoms.
Nearly 3,000,000 people in America have epilepsy. First responders must recognize the symptoms. In partnership with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Epilepsy Foundation launched a nationwide EMS training program for first responders to help individuals experiencing seizures.
Piloted by select affiliates across the nation, the program will teach over 600 Northern California first responders how best to respond to people with seizures. The curriculum is being implemented by four Alabama junior colleges into their EMS program. The Foundation will use e mail, enewsletters, national conferences presentations, and first-responder web sites to inform as many EMS staff as possible about this training program.
First responders need to understand how seizures affect people in order to provide safe and supportive emergency care.
Visit www.amazon.com for more information www.epilepsyfoundation.org.
