Person who has a seizure

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I'm curious as to how you would answer this. I was in disagreement with The Red Cross when they taught this. I really had no business taking a CPR course from them since I was a nurse and my reactions would be different....but consider this scenerio and tell me what you would do....

You're walking through the mall. Everyone's rushing around you trying to get their Holiday shopping done and you hear someone calling for help. In the middle of the floor is a 54 year old man who is having what appears to be a grand mal seizure. What first aid would you render? After rendering this first aid, would you call 9-1-1? Why or why not?

Many people have one seizure in their lifetime and never have another. For now, try not to be too alarmed, but I was approx 11 when I started having Simple Partials during the day. Most likely due to the beginnings of puberty and the hormonal changes. Estrogen lowers the seizure threshold. I would be observant for any unusual compaints or behaviors you notice. Most may be insignificant, but you may not see some seizures. The person can feel them usually. Deja Vu, Jamais Vu, epigastric rising (all Partial sz) are just three of those events that an observer probably will not notice. EEGs can easily be normal and the patient still have epilepsy since the scalp electrodes may not detect epileptogenic activity deep within the brain or if no discharges occur during the EEG. The entire picture is important. I think the EEG machines may be more sensitive now. Please select a place for care based on the quality of care produced rather than the terms usually used to bring in the customers; World Renown, First Class Research facility, etc. I can almost see the neon sign. lol One has nothing to do with the other when it gets down to it, and you want a good patient oriented Neuro Dept. or better yet, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center that does have a track record of successful treatment and satisfied 'customers'. They are not all the same, and I steer clear of those with the "neon signs". Trust me.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

getting back to the original question + remembering this is a cpr class:

a irway

b reathing

c irculation

before you start any rescue efforts, you must remember to check the victim for responsiveness. if there is no response due to seizure, immediately dial 9-1-1 and check the airway!

#1 cause of obstructed airway is the tongue followed by food. turning seizing person on the side improves the chances of moving tongue away from blocking airway. i've done the nose pinch in the past too (while in sidelying posiition) and seen it help.

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I guess I'm a thrill seeker too...really should work in the ER. I'm always jumping in...getting my hands dirty and well, yes...sometimes regretting that I jumped in. I'm getting a little better tho...

I do that too...most of the time, keep driving and call 911, especially if I see that others have stopped to help. No need to have one more hazard at the scene...meaning another parked car on the side of the road. If something happens that I witness, I've always stopped to render help. I was late one day in nursing school when an elderly couple slammed into a telephone poll...I stayed with them until the ambulance arrived. Turned out to be the grandparents of one of my fellow students. Small world.

Small world... very true. I went home to Iowa to visit my Dad a few years ago and stopped to help a stranded elderly couple. The man wouldn't leave his car unattended but requested that I take his wife (verrry old) to their son's home. Clearly, I agreed to at least get his wife to a safer area. Iowa mentality, gotta love it!!!!!

As I followed her instructions, turn right here, left there... we ended up at the home of a couple I used to babysit for as a teen. I walked her to the door and there stands the man that used to overpay me every single time I would babysit. It was a nice, yet quick... reunion. I explained that his father was still with the car. He raced to take care of his Dad.

Point being, small world... yes, it is.

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i've done the nose pinch in the past too (while in sidelying posiition) and seen it help.

you really have no clue how thrilled i am to see your post. you are the first person i have ever met that has heard of this!

thanks for posting your experiences!

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My sister had a seizure when we were in Prague on vacation. We were sitting outside at a cafe. She had complained that her tongue was "twitching". She suddenly stood up and pointed to her mouth then fell to the ground and turned blue. She was taken to a hospital via EMS. She is 29 years old and has never had a seizure before. Hopefully, this was an isolated incident. It scared the **** out of me and my family. The language barrier certainly was a challenge throughout the experience....and touring the hospital was an unexpected part of the trip.

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I am curious if the person having the siezure is truly in trouble.

I see someone wanting to perform cpr...(I mean, did the heart stop?)

As someone with a history of dealing with tonic-colonic patients, unless status epilepticus has set in, comfort and compassion on awakening work well. Padding under the head helps during.

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I agree with most of what has already been said, the first thing to do is to prevent injury, position the individual. if possible insert a wadded piece of cloth between the teeth to prevent them from biting their tongue (watch out that you do not get bitten in the process), in the interim instruct someone else to call 911, while someone, else even yourself, time the seizure and make note of which body parts are involved in the seizure.If there is someone around who may have witnessed it from the beginning, and any precipitating factors eg. slip and falletc. this is very helpful information. Err on the side of safety ALWAYS call 911.

stphnrnm

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I've had 2 normal EEG's and 2 normal MRI's.

My neuro and the ER doc both said that adult onset seizures rarely have a discernible cause. And 60% of the time you never have more than one. I had two 6 months apart so I went on medication and it has been almost 2 years.

All the research I've read says the same thing about adults - no abnormal EEG's or MRI's.

When it comes to kids though - I am not sure.

steph

Thanks Stevielynn and Susan for your input. I will try not to worry (too much). I was told about the hormone issues as a potential cause. It's very disturbing, but thanks for responding to the question. We are going through the only Childrens' Hospital in the area, and they have run her through every possible test. I hope I have her in capable hands. Thanks again.

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Specializes in pediatrics.
I agree with most of what has already been said, the first thing to do is to prevent injury, position the individual. if possible insert a wadded piece of cloth between the teeth to prevent them from biting their tongue (watch out that you do not get bitten in the process), in the interim instruct someone else to call 911, while someone, else even yourself, time the seizure and make note of which body parts are involved in the seizure.If there is someone around who may have witnessed it from the beginning, and any precipitating factors eg. slip and falletc. this is very helpful information. Err on the side of safety ALWAYS call 911.

stphnrnm

Oh my god-- Do not ever stick anything in a seizing persons mouth. By sticking anything in a seizing person's mouth, you will cause an injury to them and yourself. They are more likely to break a tooth or possibly aspirate pieces of the object that you placed in their mouth. If they are drooling or any emesis, a cloth will likely get in the way of them being appropiately sunctioned. In 14 years, I have only seen one person actually bite their tongue during seizure, after placing a bite block in, that person broke their tooth. By the way, I work in an epilepsy monitoring unit and we are instructed to never put any object in a person's mouth during a seizure.

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i was tought a coupple of moths ago at a heart saver cpr and first aid class is not to touch the persion haveing a sezure and make sure there is no danger of the pacient of hitting ther heads and i would sen someone to call 911 now a days peopple have cell phones they can use so it cuts down on the time to run to a pay phone dial 911 and run back and forth to check on the pacient. at leats thats what i was tought unles that was the wornge way i was tought.

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... if possible insert a wadded piece of cloth between the teeth to prevent them from biting their tongue (watch out that you do not get bitten in the process), ...

No no no... NOOOO~

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Oh my god-- Do not ever stick anything in a seizing persons mouth. By sticking anything in a seizing person's mouth, you will cause an injury to them and yourself. They are more likely to break a tooth or possibly aspirate pieces of the object that you placed in their mouth. If they are drooling or any emesis, a cloth will likely get in the way of them being appropiately sunctioned. In 14 years, I have only seen one person actually bite their tongue during seizure, after placing a bite block in, that person broke their tooth. By the way, I work in an epilepsy monitoring unit and we are instructed to never put any object in a person's mouth during a seizure.

You are right - never place anything in a seizing person's mouth.

However, I did bite the sides of my tongue both times and had a very sore tongue for a day or two.

steph

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