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 mattress sensor alarm if you have sleep seizures (e.g. Emfit Movement Monitor)
- Don’t use the top bunk
- Keep the room tidy
- Use smoke detectors
- Use a night light
- Use breathable safety pillows
These measures are suitable for people with nocturnal seizures or for children with
epilepsy.
In the bathroom
- Have someone near you to help
- Hinge the door outwards
- Shower if possible, sit on a seat
- Shower screens should be made of safety glass, or use a curtain.
- Preferably no shower tray
- Don’t lock the door, hang up an “Occupied” sign
- Reduce the water temperature
- Only have a shallow bath
- Use non-slip mats
In the lounge
- Avoid hard floor surfaces
- Pad hard-edged surfaces
- Avoid having trailing flexes
- Use toughened glass on doors and windows
- Use non-slip rugs
- Consider using a heat pump, place a guard around open fires and gas heaters
In the kitchen
- Microwaves are safer than stoves/ovens
- Turn pot handles away from stove edge
- Carry plates to the stove, not hot pots to the table
- Use a toaster, not a grill
- Install smoke detectors
- Visit “Life Unlimited” for safety aids
- Be safe whilst cooking and using utensils
- Safe-guard your kitchen
- Avoid hard floor surfaces
- Have a fire extinguisher handy
In the dining room
- Always sit upright whilst eating.
- Use chairs with arm rests
- Use non-skid surfaces under plates and bowls
In the basement/office
- Fit a stair gate, use a hand rail
- Avoid using hard floor surfaces
- Limit time on the computer
- Avoid trailing electrical cords
- Have adequate lighting
But accidents do happen
- Do the best you can to avoid injuries in and around the home
- Use an alarm if worried about personal safety
For further information, please take a look at:
Factsheet 4: What to do if someone is having a convulsive seizure
Factsheet 14: Safe cooking strategies for people with epilepsy
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/caring-childern/keeping-baby-child-safe-home
NOTE: People can die from epilepsy, but uncommonly. The occurrence is typically referred to as SUDEP (Sudden unexpected death by epilepsy).