Epilepsy is a complex condition with many different types of seizures possible. Each individual responds differently to the condition and so it is not possible to provide specific risk management guidelines applicable to all children within a school. Each school therefore needs to develop a series of risk management plans that are suitable for individual children with epilepsy, i.e. each child will likely need to

Driving requires a complex array of neurological functions and skills that involve vision, thinking, attention and judgement, co-ordination, reaction time and motor control. Any of these can be impaired by epilepsy and seizures. People who drive vehicles may present safety concerns for themselves, their passengers and the public. Despite having epilepsy, many people are still able to drive and hold a driver’s licence, but conditions

When a person is newly diagnosed with epilepsy there is an adjustment period. Questions are asked, “Why me?”, and a whole range of emotions can be displayed from denial, sadness, grief, or anger. These in turn can affect self-esteem: a person can become fearful of his/her condition, anxious, embarrassed, or even angry. Relationships can suffer, employment potential can be compromised and a person’s ability to

Keeping Safe – Living with Epilepsy The home is the most common place for seizure-related accidents, followed by street and workplace accidents. The following information is designed to help identify the most appropriate safety measures for you. In the bedroom Have a low bed Don’t place the bed against the wall or near other furniture Place protective cushions around the bed Pad sharp-edged furniture Use

A seizure diary is an important tool to manage, record and keep track of seizures and epilepsy.  It can be used to keep track of medications, side effects, seizure frequency and for help in identifying potential triggers. We worked together with Seizure Support Northland to develop an easy to use and in depth seizure diary. Please contact Maria if you would like to receive a free copy.

Epilepsy seizures can be controlled (but not cured) by the use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Around 70% of people become seizure-free, or have the number of their seizures decreased, with AED use. Most people find the right AED fairly quickly once newly diagnosed. These drugs calm the over-excited brain cells by affecting the levels of ‘neurotransmitter’ chemicals in the brain. They do not work at

Personal ID cards.

Epilepsy affects 1 in 100 people, and most have their first seizure in childhood. The largest group of people with epilepsy is children under the age of five (see “What is epilepsy?” fact sheet). There are many types of seizures with varying degrees of severity. Some types of childhood seizures are benign (the child grows out of them and their development and intellect are usually

Stay calm Make the person safe Cushion the head Time the seizure Look for ID on the person Don’t hold them down Put nothing in the mouth When the seizure ends, place the person in the recovery position (see below) Stay with the person until he/she has fully recovered. There is no need to call an ambulance (111) unless: The seizure lasts longer than 5

The brain is the key part of the central nervous system that controls our entire body. It controls our breathing, our beating heart, our ability to use our senses, how we receive and gather information, and even our behaviour and personality. The brain has 100 billion brain nerve cells (neurons). These cells communicate with one another and to other parts of the body by sending