How can I be warned in the event of an epileptic seizure?
Epileptic seizures often happen suddenly and can involve certain risks.
Epileptic seizures often happen suddenly and can present risks. Among other things, the type and time of the seizure will influence the level of risk, for example, whether they tend to occur during the day when someone is nearby, or at night when you’re alone in bed. Either way, providing prompt assistance is very important. Read more about the risks of epilepsy here.
Epilepsy aids
Many people ask how they could receive a warning for an epileptic seizure. Nowadays, there are various epilepsy aids available which can help prevent dangerous situations. It is a good idea, if possible, to try out epilepsy aids to assess which works best in your situation. Go to the explanation of several aids on this page.
Medication passport and medicine organiser
A medicine organiser can be a useful aid for anyone with epilepsy who needs to take several different medicines. A weekly one is divided into seven different sections or boxes, one for each day. A medicine organiser helps keep track of the medication and whether or not it has been taken. Taking the medication as prescribed is important, missing one or more doses increases the risk of seizures. The medication passport is a useful aid for anyone with epilepsy planning to travel. It provides information on the prescribed medication a person with epilepsy takes.
Seizure dogs
Many people with epilepsy who live alone often hardly dare leave the house. They are worried about having a seizure away from home, feel embarrassed or afraid of sustaining a physical injury during or after a seizure. They tend to feel dependent on others, which can lead to social isolation. An epilepsy alert dog can prove a solution in such cases.
A seizure dog is trained to alert people before and/or respond during and after a seizure. A seizure alert dog is able to give its owner or others nearby a timely warning before the onset of a seizure. This helps the person with epilepsy to feel safer and less dependent on others.
More information
You can find more information about support dogs on the Epilepsy Foundation website.
Protective helmets
People with epilepsy who often fall during a seizure can benefit from wearing a helmet. A helmet will protect their head and brain from injury as a result of a seizure. These helmets are specially designed for people with epilepsy and are suitable for everyday use. A wide range of protective headgear is available, such as ready-to-wear or made-to-measure protective helmets, hats, caps and wigs.
Epilepsy alarm
It is also possible to register a seizure using a seizure detection and alert system. If a seizure occurs, the system will trigger an epilepsy alert, enabling people nearby to provide appropriate assistance and try to avoid life-threatening situations. For example, seizures in which the person loses consciousness or becomes less aware of what is happening, or seizures that occur during their sleep.
There are two types of alarm. If someone feels a seizure coming on, they can press a button. This will trigger an alert at a monitoring care centre, for example, or on a carer’s mobile phone. For people who don’t feel the seizure coming on, because they lose consciousness or because the seizure happens during their sleep, other aids are available, such as NightWatch epilepsy alert system.
No epilepsy detection system or other alarm systems can ever fully guarantee that all seizures will be detected. There are many different systems on the market, and it is not always clear in advance which method would be most suitable. Always consult your neurologist and/or attending physician about which epilepsy aid is suitable and necessary in your situation.