Safety and Seizures Page 8

Printer Friendly Version Print this page [Close Window]

Bathroom Safety

• Hang the bathroom doors so they open outwards instead of inwards. If someone has a seizure and falls against a closed door, the door can still be opened from the other side.
  
  
• Leave bathroom doors unlocked (also a good tip for everyone). Hang an "Occupied" sign on the outside handle, instead of locking the door.
  
  
• Singing in the shower or tub will reassure others that you're doing fine.
  
  
• Routinely check that the bathroom drain works properly before taking a bath or shower.
  
  
• If you fall frequently during seizures, consider using a shower or tub seat with a safety strap.
  
  
• Consider using a hand held shower nozzle while seated in tub or shower.
  
  
• Put non-skid strips in the tub.
  
  
• Set water temperature low so that you won't be scalded if you lose consciousness while hot water is running. If you have difficulty judging the temperature of water, turn the cold water on first and have someone else check the water temperature for you.
  
  

My daughter had drop seizures without any warning and I always had to be extra careful when she was in the tub. As she got to be a teenager she didn't want me in the bathroom with her. So we got a special plastic tub seat for her, with a strap, so she could still take a bath by herself but wouldn't fall or slump forward into the water if she had a seizure.

• Keep the bathroom well ventilated so that it doesn't get too hot.
  
  
• Avoid using electrical appliances, such as a hair dryer or electric razor, in the bathroom or near water.
  
  
• Use shatterproof glass for mirrors in the bathroom.

 

---

Disclaimer

This information is based on common experience. It does not reflect the level of risk or need for safety measures of any individual. People vary in their need for safety measures and readers with seizures are warned not to base lifestyle changes on this material without first consulting a physician.

Return to Seizure Safety Site | Return to EFI Home | Learn About Epilepsy