Llanelli Branch perform a first aid demonstration to address issue
Epilepsy Action’s Llanelli Branch is holding a first aid demonstration in Llanelli to support the charity’s Take epilepsy action campaign.
The first aid demonstration will be take place on Wednesday 9 November at St Elli shopping centre (near Asda), Llanelli. There will be an epilepsy information stand from 9.30am. First aid demonstrations will be performed at 10.30am, 12.30pm, and 2.30pm.
The demonstrations are in response to a recent YouGov survey, which revealed that most people in Wales do not know what to do to help someone who is having an epileptic seizure. The survey showed that more than eight out of ten (84 per cent) would do something wrong or would fail to do all of the correct things. This is despite the fact that epilepsy is one of the most common serious neurological conditions, affecting over 29,000 people across Wales .
It also found that a third (34 per cent) of people would actually do something dangerous when trying to help someone having a seizure. Nearly a third (30 per cent) of respondents said that they would attempt to put something in someone’s mouth to stop them swallowing their tongue . Others would fail to do the correct things, such as cushion the head (40 per cent) or look for an epilepsy ID card (65 per cent).
The results mirror those of a survey of more than 1,000 people with epilepsy, which found that 88 per cent worry about having a seizure in public. More than 60 per cent said that they worried that people would not know what to do.
Epilepsy Action has launched the campaign to help people in Wales to recognise different kinds of seizures and first aid for seizures. As part of the Take epilepsy action campaign, the charity has developed an ‘ACTION’ acronym* to help people remember what to do if they see someone have a tonic-clonic seizure. A two-minute video has been launched online that gives first aid information based on the ACTION message.
Phil Denning, from Llanelli, has had epilepsy for over forty years. Phil said: “People panic when they see a seizure. They don’t know what to do and it frightens them. I just think that people need to know that a person having a seizure is not drunk, or dying. I’m supporting the Take Epilepsy Action campaign to promote first aid so people know what to do.”
Stacey Rennard, campaigns manager at Epilepsy Action, said: “It is worrying that such a large percentage of the British public doesn’t know how to deal with seizures. Clearly the lack of public understanding of seizures is having an impact on people with the condition, who are anxious about having seizures away from home.
“It would make a huge difference to people with epilepsy if the general public could recognise different kinds of seizure and knew what to do to help. We want people to see that dealing with seizures is something that anyone can do and that everyone can learn.”
The charity is giving away thousands of free wallet-sized ACTION cards carrying first aid
information. Members of the public can order their cards by calling the Epilepsy Helpline on freephone 0808 800 5050.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.epilepsy.org.uk/action
A – Assess: Assess the situation – are they in danger of injuring themselves? Remove any nearby objects that could cause injury
C – Cushion: Cushion their head (with a jumper, for example) to protect them from head injury
T – Time: Check the time – if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes you should call an ambulance
I – Identity: Look for a medical bracelet or ID card – it may give you information about the person’s seizure and what to do
O – Over: Once the seizure is over, put them on their side (in the recovery position). Stay with them and reassure them as they come round
N – Never: Never restrain the person, put something in their mouth or try to give them food or drink
Call an ambulance if:
- You know it is a person’s first seizure
- The seizure lasts for more than five minutes
- One seizure appears to follow another without the person gaining consciousness in between
- The person is injured
- You believe the person needs urgent medical attention