November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month!
Get Seizure First Aid Certified
#NEAM2020 - Small Actions for Big Change
The Problem
- We need more people talking about epilepsy. With more voices lifted together, we can create greater change.
- More people need to know Seizure First Aid. Knowing the three words “Stay. Safe. Side.” and what they mean can help save lives.
- One-third of people with epilepsy live with uncontrolled seizures. We need to raise funds for research to improve treatments and to support programs that can help improve quality of life.
National Epilepsy Awareness Month is a way for our community to raise their voice and share their journey, wherever they are in the fight against epilepsy. — Laura Thrall, president & CEO, Epilepsy Foundation
#NEAM2020 Activities
Share Your eJourney: Epilepsy Foundation Community Blog
- Share your epilepsy story with the world – wherever you find yourselves in the fight.
- This includes family, friends, caregivers and anyone with an epilepsy journey.
- Videos, words, and photos all make this story real and can create understanding, support and outcomes that can shift the tide in the battle our community faces every day.
- Read community stories and submit yours today for our eJourney Community Blog.
Earn Your Digital Badge for Being Seizure Ready
- The Epilepsy Foundation recently launched the first and only Seizure Recognition and First Aid certification training to support the 3.4 million people in the U.S. living with epilepsy.
- The Seizure Recognition and First Aid certification training provides information to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence in recognizing seizures and safely administering seizure first aid.
- Thanks to you, more than 2,600 people were certified in Seizure Recognition and First Aid!
Stay Safe Side: Public Service Announcement
- After you’ve taken the training, share our Seizure First Aid Public Service Announcement (PSA). This PSA will be played in Chicago and Atlanta.
- The #StaySafeSide PSAs are part of the Epilepsy Foundation’s five-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are designed to help improve the general public’s awareness about seizure recognition and first aid.
Seizure First Aid
Educate Others about Seizure First Aid
Show others how to take care of someone having a seizure. Seizure First Aid is simple - Three Ss: Stay, Safe, Side.
- STAY with the person and start timing the seizure. Remain calm and check for medical ID.
- Keep the person SAFE. Move or guide away from harmful objects.
- Turn the person onto their SIDE if they are not awake and aware. Don’t block airway, put something small and soft under the head, loosen tight clothes around neck.
- Do NOT put anything in their mouth. Don’t give water, pills or food until the person is awake.
- Do NOT restrain.
- STAY with them until they are awake and alert after the seizure. Most seizures end in a few minutes.
When to Call 911
- Seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
- Repeated seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizure occurs in water
- Person is injured, pregnant, or sick
- Person does not return to their usual state
- First time seizure
Get Seizure First Aid Certified
Encourage Others to Take Action
Challenge your friends to teach their friends about seizure first aid. Use the hashtags in your social media posts:
- #NEAM2020
- #SeizureFirstAid
- #ShareMySeizure
- Stream4Epilepsy
- #S4E
- #EpilepsyEquity
Previous National Epilepsy Awareness Months
- 2019: Stay. Safe. Side.
- 2018: Let's Use our Brains to End Epilepsy
- 2017 Activities
- 2016 Activities
- 2015: #DareTo Go the Distance and #DareTo Be Seizure Smart
- 2014: What is your #DareTo?
- 2013: Story Days
The Epilepsy Foundation has celebrated National Epilepsy Awareness Month since 1969. In 2003, Congress passed a formal resolution declaring November as National Epilepsy Awareness Month.
