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Seizures and Restraints

Sat, 11/27/2004 - 11:25
Can someone help me out here? This past weekend, I wound up at the hands of the EMTs of my area. My ride to the ER was a literal nightmare.My question is: Is it just this area of NJ or is it nationwide that EMTs believe that it's acceptable to use restraints on the patient of a seizure call? ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME they respond they seem to think that it's not only okay, but required, even when told not to by family or friends. At least in this instance, they didn't use the police officers' handcuffs! Usually were it not for the restraints, the aches and pains would be ending by now. My back feels like it was used for a trampoline, my shoulders feel as if they were dislocated and replaced and I have bruises that cannot be explained by any stretch of the imagination as resulting from a seizure.Any suggestions on enlightening them?

Comments

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by mommy2kyra on Tue, 2004-02-10 - 16:09
I don't have any suggestions on elightening people, I wish that I did! I live in CA, and I had a few seizures in the hospital after having a baby. The nurse tried to put something in my mouth to hold my tongue down during my seizure, and afterwards, they tied me to the bed! I know that they aren't supposed to do stuff like that, so I would think that healthcare professionals know it too!I'm pregnant again, and am afraid of repeating what happened with my daughter. I plan on talking to everyone I can to make sure that if (God forbid) I do have seizures, I'm cared for properly.Do you have a local Epilepsy Foundation? If so, maybe you should contact them to ask if they have suggestions. They're pretty big on support and education... Best of luck to you!Heather

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by USMALE on Wed, 2004-02-11 - 12:45
Heather,First and foremost, Congratulations!Thanks for the reply. I guess what I'm up to here is trying to get a sampling of experiences from around the country. A sort of unofficial poll. There is an office of the Epilepsy foundation in the area, but I hope to have a few numbers to back myself up with. It's high time that the restraints were stopped. I must have looked like a crazed addict in withdrawl when they took me out of here. I'm further angered by the fact that my mother informs me that she told the "EMT's" not to restrain me when they were discussing it. How these people became certified as Emergency Medical Technicians worries me. I'm beginning to wonder if all they need to know is CPR.I have a feeling that I'll be needing to educate with a loud voice. I'm usually a very easy going guy, but, I'm angry and ready to take a stand on this one.I wish you luck in educating those you need to educate. There's no excuse for tying down a seizure patient. That belongs back in the 16th century. I can almost ALMOST forgive an attempt fo put something in someone's mouth, because so many people still are misinformed. If I had a dollar for everyone I've told not to do this....sheesh!!! But there's no excuse when done by a healthcare professional. Good luck with the new baby!wewillow@aol.com

RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by EpilepsyDotComEditor on Wed, 2004-02-11 - 16:31
It does seem as though a lot of people who should know better have misconceptions about how to handle seizures. I agree that the Epilepsy Foundation is probably a good place to start. They may be able to do an educational program for some of these folks.I suppose it may be standard practice for the EMTs to secure everybody who is being put in the ambulance, so they don't fall off the stretcher when it goes around a corner. You can hardly blame them for that. But it sounds as if they need better procedures for how and when to do it.You might also ask your neurologist about how your seizures should be handled. Many times the EMTs may not be needed. Perhaps your mother can use something like Diastat to stop long seizures or clusters. (Info on Diastat will be available on epilepsy.com any day now.) Make sure everyone you know has read the "First Aid" section of epilepsy.com, complete with animations!

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