Quick Facts on Epilepsy

Background on Epilepsy:

- Approximately 3 million persons in US have the condition

- It is a neurological condition that makes people susceptible to seizures.

- A seizure is a change in sensation, awareness, or behavior brought about by a brief electrical disturbance in the brain.

- Seizures vary from a momentary disruption of the senses, to short periods of unconsciousness or staring spells, to convulsions.

- Some people have just one type of seizure. Others have more than one type.

- Although they appear different, all seizures have the same cause: a sudden change in how the cells of the brain send electrical signals to each other. The condition can be caused by anything that affects the brain, including tumors and strokes.

- Sometimes epilepsy is inherited. Often, no cause can be found.

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First responders, mistaking seizures for resistance or aggression, have sometimes used excessive force, causing serious injury and even death.

- In recent years, there have been numerous reports of serious injuries cased by use of improper force (and some deaths), including physical restraint and use of Tasers. Examples of cases are available on the Epilepsy Foundation’s Web site http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsylegal/restraintcases.cfm.

- Improper restraint practices include binding of hands and feet and prone or face-down holds; these can cause suffocation or cardiac arrest in a person experiencing a seizure.

During a complex partial seizure, a person:

§ cannot interact normally with other people

§ is not in control of his movements, speech, or actions

§ doesn't know what he's doing; and cannot remember afterwards what happened during the seizure

§ a person may even be able to speak, but the words are unlikely to make sense and he or she will not be able to respond to others in an appropriate way

§ Seizures can last as long as 30 minutes, and are usually followed by memory loss and confusion

§ Signs may include

· screaming

· running

· flailing or unnatural looking movements of the arms or legs

· spitting

· shouting and abusive statements

· picking at or fumbling with clothing

· mumbling and performing simple, unorganized movements over and over again