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Safety and Seizures |
Page 15 |
Parenting
Safety
| My
neighbors thought putting dead bolts on the backyard gate was
pretty strange, and they really flipped out when I went outside
with my toddler attached to my wrist with a bungee cord. But
I didn't want him getting out of the yard if I had a seizure.
When I explained, hey agreed it made sense -- for anyone. |
If you have frequent seizures and you are responsible for
other who depend on you, such as children or the elderly, you may
want to consider ways to reduce any risks to them, as well as yourself,
if you have a seizure.
As you go through your daily activities, think about what could
happen if you were unable to react for a short time.
Sometimes, there will be no additional risk -- at other times there
may be. Then you will want to consider what extra safety precautions
you might take for yourself and your family.
In may cases, you'll find the safety steps involved are not so different
from what all parents do.
- First,
like other parents, you will want to child-proof your house as
much as possible.
- If you are nursing a baby, or giving him a bottle, sit on the
floor or bed, with your back supported. That way the baby should
be protected from falling very far if you should lose consciousness.
- Feeding the baby while she's seated in a stroller or infant seat
may work for you. Toddler seats and small feeding tables can be
used as a child grows.
- Dress, change and sponge bathe the baby on the floor, using a
portable changing pad.
- Move the baby around in a stroller or small crib that can be wheeled
easily from one room to another.
- Keep a young baby in a playpen as much as possible when on your
own; keep a toddler in a larger enclosure, or indoor play yard.
- Another approach is to childproof a room and use toddler safety
gates at doorways and stairs to keep him from wandering away.
- Keep your epilepsy medicine out of the reach of all children.
- When out shopping or walking, tie your hand to your child's with
a bungee-type cord or have the child wear a restraint harness
so that he or she can't wander away if you have a seizure that
affects your awareness.
- As your child grows, explain your seizures in words he can understand
and won't frighten him.
| As
a mother with frequent seizures I was very concerned for the
baby, but I managed to keep things simple. When he cried, I'd
hold him while sitting on the floor. That's how I fed and changed
him, too. I'd wait to bathe him until my husband was home. Then
we'd both give him a bath, which was fun. As he grew older I
never let him see me take my medicine, because I was afraid
he'd think it was candy and try to get some. |
- Teach
your toddler how to call a neighbor, relative, or friend if you
have a major seizure. Put the phone numbers in big bright colors
near the phone Teach your child how to call 911 and give your
home address.
- Better yet, pre-program your phone to automatically contact the
local rescue squad (or other source of help) or page a family
member or friend. Then teach everyone in our family how to use
it.
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