WORKING WITH GIRLS
WITH SEIZURE DISORDERS
Epilepsy is a disorder which results in periodic loss of consciousness, and sometimes in seizures – episodes of muscle spasms involving all or part of the body. It is the result of mis-directed electrical “signals” within the brain, and is not contagious.
A girl who has seizures may have one of several kinds: Tonic Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizures involve violent muscle spasms and shaking of all or part of the body, with loss of consciousness and, at times, pallor or cyanosis (bluish skin color). Attacks usually last from one to five minutes. Absence (Petit Mal) is characterized by very brief changes in behavior, such as momentary staring, head drop, or rolling of the eyes, lasting only a few seconds. Atonic/Akinetic (Drop) Seizure is a very brief moment of loss of muscle tone and loss of consciousness. Myoclonic Seizures are characterized by sudden muscle movements which may involve the head, arms or the entire body. Seizures only last a few seconds. Other than the tonic-clonic seizures, the others usually require no special care after them to protect the child from injury during the seizure. Observe and report the incident to the parent/guardian.
FIRST AID FOR GRAND MAL SEIZURES
Remain calm during the seizure as the girl is experiencing no pain. Reassure others present, and discourage curious onlookers from gathering around.
Do not try to restrain the girl. There is nothing you can do to stop a seizure; once it has begun, it must run its course.
Lower the girl gently to the floor, and position her body on the side or on her abdomen, especially if she has vomited or has an excessive amount of saliva. Clear the area around her so that she does not injure herself on hard or sharp objects.
Loosen any tight clothing. If the room or area is cool, cover her with a blanket or coat. A thin pillow or rolled-up jacket can be placed under her head to protect her from injury.
If possible, dim the lights or close the blinds and try to control loud or harsh noises, as these may sometimes trigger or prolong seizure activity.
Talk to the girl in a calm, soothing voice; she will not respond verbally, but may be able to hear you, and reassurances will help her relax.
DO NOT FORCE anything between her teeth – this could cause damage to her mouth or teeth, and will not help. If her mouth is hanging open, you might place a soft object between her side teeth. If there is fluid in her mouth, turn her head toward the side.
Observe the details of the seizure – time of onset, anything which may have triggered it, length of time it lasts, parts of the body involved, changes in breathing or skin color, so that the girl’s parents or physician can be informed accurately.
It usually is unnecessary to call a doctor unless the seizure lasts more than 10 minutes or if it is followed almost immediately by another major seizure. In emergencies such as this, a fire department, rescue squad or ambulance can provide assistance.
When the seizure has stopped, allow the girl to rest quietly for a few minutes. She may even fall asleep briefly; this is normal, as the intense muscular activity is very tiring. She may also be stiff and sore after a seizure. After resting, she should be able to resume quiet activity.
If the seizure occurs in the pool, do not remove the girl from the pool. Keep the girl’s head above water and when the seizure is over, refer to step 10.
REMEMBER: The seizure will run its course and stop no mater what you do. Your role is to keep her from injuring herself and to maintain a calm area around her.
The other girls in the troop can be helped to accept the girl’s seizures, and to understand that they are not contagious or dangerous to others. Help them to understand – rather than pity – and to accept the girl in a natural way.
Be sure to inform the girl’s parent and/or doctor of the accurate details of the seizure.
Do you have suggestions and/or advice to share based on your experience working with differently abled populations? Please share them here!
