National Survey Shows Teens Lack Epilepsy Awareness

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A recent survey of 20,000 American teenagers about their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of epilepsy underscores the need for increased awareness of the common neurological disorder that affects about 350,000 children and teens in this country.

The survey reveals that 68 percent of teens are unfamiliar with epilepsy. During Epilepsy Month this November, the Epilepsy Foundation is launching a national campaign called “Entitled to Respect” to improve understanding and acceptance of teens with epilepsy among their peers. The campaign is part of a youth program partnership between the Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which funded the survey.

Perhaps the most surprising survey result is that 67 percent of teens would probably not know what to do if someone had a seizure. The Foundation is distributing a special brochure nationwide during Epilepsy Month with guidelines about what to do if someone has a seizure. The guidelines suggest the following steps in the event of a convulsive seizure.

Stay calm. Move things out of the way of the person having the seizure. Put something soft under the head; loosen anything tight around the neck. Turn the person gently to one side. Do not put anything in the mouth. Do not try to hold the person down.

If a person has a seizure that looks like staring, loss of awareness, blinking, chewing, or other movements, stay calm. Guide the person away from danger or standing in front of anything hazardous. Do not try to grab hold of them. Stay nearby until the person is fully aware again.

Teens may wonder if they should call an ambulance when someone has a seizure. If there are injuries, if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, or if another seizure begins soon after the first, then an ambulance should be called. Seizures usually end naturally, however without any medical attention.

For more information about epilepsy and Epilepsy Month, teens can visit www.entitledtorespect.org.