Seizures and Restraints

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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: RE: RE: RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by Karolwf on Thu, 2004-11-25 - 14:47

Lee

I agree with you and I do carry a card of intructions and I do keep a card on the wall in my home next to my bedroom. I have tried to educate the EMS and the Police but they don't seem to be interested. All I have every gotten was a smile and a pat on the head. My biggest beef is with the Mental Health community who are so quick to think a seizure is a mental illness and try to load you up with medication and "help". I have talked with my local Epilepsy foundation and they have the same problem in trying to educate people. I am all for education as Education is my lifes work. I just wish that there was more awareness. Thanks for the tips for everyone. I am glad you have been able to do something in your area to educate the people. I travel alot so I am not so easily known.

Later . .. . Karol

Lee

I agree with you and I do carry a card of intructions and I do keep a card on the wall in my home next to my bedroom. I have tried to educate the EMS and the Police but they don't seem to be interested. All I have every gotten was a smile and a pat on the head. My biggest beef is with the Mental Health community who are so quick to think a seizure is a mental illness and try to load you up with medication and "help". I have talked with my local Epilepsy foundation and they have the same problem in trying to educate people. I am all for education as Education is my lifes work. I just wish that there was more awareness. Thanks for the tips for everyone. I am glad you have been able to do something in your area to educate the people. I travel alot so I am not so easily known.

Later . .. . Karol

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by theresab72 on Fri, 2004-11-26 - 09:57

My cousin had a grand mal seizure with just his 10 yr old daughter in the house and she called 911 and the cops came and put handcuffs on him and when he came out of the seizure he realized he had the cuffs on and didn't know where he was, became angry and reacted, and this all happened in front of his daughter. This is a very, very low key guy normally. His daughter was never the same after that. All because of the cuffs....they never needed to do that!

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Seizures and Restraints

Submitted by Karolwf on Fri, 2004-11-26 - 22:48

This is the kind of thing that makes it so hard for people - especially the children. There is no need to do things like that. I have found that the people who are suppose to be helpful are the ones who out of ignorance (not knowing) do more harm than good. My children are victums of this sort of "abuse". They are grown and have families of their own and they still are having trouble coming to grips with episodes like this. It makes them not trust those they should have their utmost trust in. I do not trust the police nor the EMS people and God forbid the people in the ER's. And I used to work for the FBI. The neurologist I had in Texas told me to stay away from the ER because he told me they would kill me there. That is sad! Really sad! So I try to stay away from them all.