Seizures Everything you need to know for managing a student with Seizures and First Aid - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Seizures

Everything you need to know for managing a student with Seizures and First AidSlide2

A condition of disturbed brain activity that causes changes in a person’s attention or behavior.

Epilepsy is a disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over a period of timeSeizures are a disorder of brain function due to a medical condition, injury to the brain or cause may be unknown. Seldom associated with brain damage.

What is a Seizure?Slide3

What you should know:Seizures are a true medical problem

Most seizures are NOT medical emergenciesStudents are often NOT aware they are having a seizure and will not remember what happenedEpilepsy is NOT contagiousEpilepsy is NOT a form of mental illness

Students vary rarely die or are brain damaged during a seizure

A student can NOT swallow his/her tongue during a seizure

You should NEVER put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure

Epilepsy can impact learning and behavior:

Seizures may cause short-term memory problemsAfter a seizure, coursework may need to be retaughtSeizure activity, without obvious physical symptoms, can still affect learningMedications may cause drowsiness, inattention, concentration difficulties and behavioral changesStudent with epilepsy may suffer from low self-esteemSchool difficulties are not always related to a student’s seizures

Seizure FactsSlide4

Seizures vary from person to person

May vary from simple staring spells to violent shaking and loss of alertness

Type of seizure depends on the part of the brain affected

Some people may have an Aura prior to a seizure.

An Aura may be tingling, dizziness, emotional changes, or changes in vision, taste and smell

Seizure Symptoms Slide5

Absent (Petit Mal

): May appear as a lack of alertness, a staring spell, or blanks out. Last <15 seconds. Can occur many times a day. These are often mistaken for behavioral issues or poor attention. May interfere with school/learning.Partial (focal

): No loss of consciousness. There may be muscle contraction that affects a side of the body or abnormal head movements. There may be changes in mood

, behavior,

or vision. Staring spells may also occur

Generalized (Grand Mal

): This will involve the whole body. There will be muscle rigidity, followed by muscle contraction and loss of consciousness. There may be loss of bowel and bladder. May affect breathing. Very high potential for injury!Types of SeizuresSlide6

Remain calm! (Easy to say, hard to do)

A seizure can not be stopped once it has startedTry to get student to lying down position. Side lying is ideal to protect airway. This position prevents the tongue from blocking the airway and helps reduce chance of choking on vomit or secretions.Protect from injury-especially their head

Do NOT put any object in student’s mouth

!

Loosen any tight fitting clothing, especially around the neck

Observe and document length of seizure and activity noted

Stay with student! Send other students away if possible to protect privacySupport student’s airway and initiate rescue breathing/CPR if neededOffer comfort and reassurance to student as he/she awakens from seizure activityNotify Parents/GuardianCALL 911 if: seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, no history of seizures, multiple seizures occur, of if pregnant, injured or diabetic

First Aid for SeizuresSlide7

1. Position Student on side. 2. Gather supplies, Remove cap and lubricate syringe tip.

3. Bend leg forward and separate buttocks to expose rectum.4. Slowly count to 3 while pushing plunger until it stops. 5. Count to 3 before removing syringe.6. Hold buttocks together counting to 3 again. 7. Leave person on side, continue to monitor.

How to give

DiastatSlide8
Slide9

Diastat is absorbed rapidly & may be ordered by a physician for some students with Seizures.

Diastat is a rectal form of a muscle relaxant known as valium.Diastat is given for Seizures lasting longer than 3 minutes OR as ordered by the physician

Whenever

Diastat

is given, 911 is to be called. Notify Parent/Guardian

Allow for as much privacy for the student as possible.

Note time Diastat is given for EMS.Keep student lying on side & covered.Observe and monitor breathing after administration.Emergency Diastat AdministrationSlide10

Seizures Training Confirmation

Congratulations, you have almost completed your training for Seizure disorder. Please access the following link.