Police, other first responders must get better training to help people having seizures

The tragic incident reported in Fresno of police arresting an autistic person with seizures reminds us again why it is vital for everyone to know how to recognize seizures and administer Seizure First Aid. It is clear that there is still much work to be done when it comes to ensuring the safety of 3.4 million people living with epilepsy and seizures in our country.

I have epilepsy. I have seizures. I have faced unfortunate situations with first responders and it wasn’t pleasant.

Until people living with epilepsy and seizures have access to better care and cures, we need to make sure they feel safe if they have a seizure — anywhere, any time. Many people do not know how to recognize a seizure. And, unfortunately, that includes the people we count on to keep us safe — police officers, first responders, firefighters and transit officers.

There is a long history of people being mishandled or even physically harmed by law enforcement and first responders while they are having a seizure in public or during the post-seizure state, when they are still confused. It is still not unusual for the police to fail to recognize that a seizure is occurring, has occurred, and/or that someone might be in a state of post-seizure confusion, and that’s why they cannot respond to orders and commands. There are instances where this has resulted in false arrest, imprisonment, criminal charges, and even the tragic death of the person with epilepsy.

Training is key. Know how to recognize a seizure. A seizure may cause a person to fall down and convulse or shake. A seizure may also cause a person to stare, have muscle jerks, or even walk around and even exhibit behaviors that seem inappropriate in that environment. It is important to know that, although most seizures usually last only a few minutes, it is very common to also have a period of dazed confusion and lack of awareness following a seizure (post-seizure phase).

Know what to do. It is vital to our collective safety — as individuals and as communities — that our first responders and law enforcement personnel know how to recognize and respond appropriately when someone has a seizure. That’s why the Epilepsy Foundation provides Seizure First Aid training for first responders and law enforcement personnel throughout the country. In California, the Epilepsy Foundation’s offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Northern California offer free in-person and online training for law enforcement and first responders.

Let’s make this message so loud and clear so that people who have seizures feel safe every day in every community across our country. Learn and teach others about Seizure First Aid: STAY. SAFE. SIDE. Learn more at Epilepsy.com/firstaid.

This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 7:00 AM.