Maggie and Jaggy are back in this blog to discuss a first aid scenario for an often-misunderstood emergency known as an Epileptic Fit attack. They will not only tell the readers the correct first aid but debunk certain myths too. So, over to Maggie and Jaggy.

Maggie: “Hello Jaggy, how are you?”

Jaggy: “Excited to be alive Maggie!”

Maggie: “Excited to be alive? A new one from you.”

Jaggy: “Nothing new Maggie. I believe that Life is for Living.”

Maggie: “Saving it too if need be right!”

Jaggy: “Absolutely.”

Maggie: “Recently when I was going on the road, a young boy about 20 had an epileptic fit attack and people were standing around not knowing what to do. Can you tell me the correct first aid for an epileptic fit?”

Jaggy: “Sure. An Epileptic Seizure as it is called in medical terms, occurs to many people. It is usually more evident in Children and Young people though elderly persons too can experience seizures. It is commonly called an Epileptic Fit.”

Maggie: “Oh, I see!”

Jaggy: “It is basically a disorder of the nervous system which results in increased electrical impulses in the brain and because of which the body of the person trembles violently. These attacks usually do not last for a long time.”

Maggie: “What is the first aid if one sees someone having an Epileptic attack?”

Jaggy: “First and foremost, do not touch the victim when he is trembling. They are difficult to handle during the seizure. Wait for the convulsions to stop.”

Maggie: “What next?”

Jaggy: “Once the trembling stops, the victim usually falls. The first aider must ease the fall and make the victim lie down on a flat surface.”

Maggie: “You are telling me that one needs to wait till the intensity subsides.”

Jaggy: “Exactly. Once the victim has been made to lie down, check the response of the victim. If the victim is not responding call the ambulance and check breathing. If the victim is breathing, you place him in Recovery Position.”

Maggie: “Recovery Position? What is that?”

Jaggy: “It is quite simple. All you need to do is make the person lie down on one side, either the left or the right. The left side is better than the right as the heart lies in the centre and slightly tilted to the left to prevent a medical term called Aspiration.”

Maggie: “Can we give him water or liquids to drink?”

Jaggy: “Absolutely not. You never give water or liquids to a person who is not responding. The water will enter the lungs of the victim and can be fatal.”

Maggie: “Okay I understand. But I have seen people give iron rods or keys for such incidents from where I hail.”

Jaggy: “Yes, I know that. All that is a myth. It is neither scientific nor medically correct. In some places, they even make the victim smell leather shoes or onions. Medically, Recovery position is the correct first aid.”

Maggie: “Often I have seen froth coming out of the mouth. Is it dangerous?”

Jaggy: “It is not froth but saliva that comes out and it is harmless. There are occasions where victims bite their tongue too but that’s not so serious. Trained paramedics use a Hook shaped like the alphabet J to prevent a victim from biting their tongue.”

Maggie: “Do we do CPR for an Epileptic attack?”

Jaggy: “No. Usually the victim is not responsive but breathing. Only if there is no breathing, we begin CPR.”

Maggie: “Do people affected by Epilepsy wear any identification so that one can easily help during and attack and can also inform the Emergency services of the problem.”

Jaggy: “Thanks for asking the question. They usually wear a medical bracelet or band which informs others that they have a medical problem. Not only epilepsy but certain diabetics too wear them.”

Maggie: “Thanks, Jaggy for the clear explanation.”

Jaggy: “Always a pleasure to share Lifesaving knowledge Maggie.”

Jaggy and Maggie will be having more conversations on various aspects of First aid. Till then Stay Safe, Be Safe. Keep the comments and suggestions flowing.

Seshadri Varadarajan.