What do to in case anyone gets an epileptic attack

on request of mayi:

What is epilepsy: (too long to put here)
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/About-Epilepsy.cfm

First aid for epilepsy:
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/firstaid/index.cfm

First Aid for Generalized Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizures
During a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, the person suddenly falls to the ground and has a convulsive seizure. It is essential to protect him or her from injury.

Cradle the head or place something soft under it, a towel or your hand, for example. Remove all dangerous objects.

A bystander can do nothing to prevent or terminate an attack.

At the end of the seizure, make sure the mouth is cleared of food and saliva by turning the person on his or her side to provide an open airway and allow fluids to drain.

Remain calm. If the person assisting remains calm, the person having the seizure will be reassured when he or she regains consciousness.

Breathing almost always resumes spontaneously after a convulsive seizure. Failure to resume breathing signals a complication of the seizure such as a blocked airway, heart attack or severe head or neck injury. In these unusual circumstances, CPR must start immediately.

If repeated seizures occur, or if a single seizure lasts longer than five minutes, the person should be taken to a medical facility immediately. Prolonged or repeated seizures may suggest status epilepticus (nonstop seizures), which requires emergency medical treatment.

When providing seizure first aid for generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures, these are the key things to remember:

Keep calm and reassure other people who may be nearby.
Don't hold the person down or try to stop his movements.
Time the seizure with your watch.
Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.
Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult.
Put something flat and soft, like a folded jacket, under the head.
Turn him or her gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear. Do not try to force the mouth open with any hard implement or with fingers. It is not true that a person having a seizure can swallow his tongue. Efforts to hold the tongue down can injure teeth or jaw.
Don't attempt artificial respiration except in the unlikely event that a person does not start breathing again after the seizure has stopped.
Stay with the person until the seizure ends naturally.
Be friendly and reassuring as consciousness returns.
Offer to call a taxi, friend or relative to help the person get home if he seems confused or unable to get home by himself.

Is an Emergency Room Visit Needed?

An uncomplicated generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizure in someone who has epilepsy is not a medical emergency, even though it looks like one. It stops naturally after a few minutes without ill effects. The average person is able to continue about his business after a rest period, and may need only limited assistance, or no assistance at all, in getting home. In other circumstances, an ambulance should be called.

No Need to Call an Ambulance
if medical I.D. jewelry or card says "epilepsy," and
if the seizure ends in under five minutes, and
if consciousness returns without further incident, and
if there are no signs of injury, physical distress, or pregnancy.

An Ambulance Should Be Called
if the seizure has happened in water.
if there's no medical I.D., and no way of knowing whether the seizure is caused by epilepsy.
if the person is pregnant, injured, or diabetic.
if the seizure continues for more than five minutes.
if a second seizure starts shortly after the first has ended.
if consciousness does not start to return after the shaking has stopped.





















A generalized tonic clonic seizure:
Here the whole brain is affected from the beginning.
(a) there is a cry and loss of consciousness,arms flex up then extend
(b) arms remain rigid (the tonic phase)for a few seconds. A series of jerking movementstake place (the clonic phase) as muscles contract and relax together.
(c) the jerking is slowing down andwill eventually stop.
(d) the man has been placed on his side to aid breathing and to keep the airway clear.