Forwarded for Omaha: TV Doctors are incompetent when dealing with epileptics

[elfs]

The Epilepsy Foundation of America reviewed scenes from 59 television episodes from "Grey's Anatomy," "House, M.D.," and "Private Practice" and the last five seasons of "ER" in which seizures were portrayed. The conclusion? TV doctors depict first aid practices that are incompetent and dangerous:

The study found that inappropriate practices, including holding the person down, trying to stop involuntary movements or putting something in the person's mouth, occurred in 25 cases, nearly 46 percent of the time. First aid management was shown appropriately in 17 seizures, or about 29 percent of the time. Appropriateness of first aid could not be determined in 15 incidents of seizures, or 25 percent.

I mean, come on, how hard can this be? If the victim is standing up when the seziure happens, guide him to the floor. Put a pillow or folded-up jacket under the head to keep him from hitting it on the ground and injuring his head, neck, or airway during involuntary movements. If you don't know the victim, dial 911 (or the appropriate code for your country) and clear the area around the victim to keep him and bystanders from interacting.

(HT to anonymous.)

Comments

[omahas.livejournal.com]

Reason #1: by the time an epileptic starts seizing in an obvious manner, many have already locked their jaws, or their mouths are already moving uncontrollably. Trying to put something into their mouth puts both you and the epileptic at risk for physical damage.

Trying to open a locked jaw can damage the persons jaw. Trying to put something in a mouth that is uncontrolled can result in you losing your fingers (that is no joke). Trying to do all this amongst other flailing appendages can result in damage as well.

Lastly, trying to put something in a seizing victims mouth can actually *cause* them to bite their tongue.

Reason #2: first hand experience. I am an epileptic (from the age of 17). Back in the day when this was still advocated (as late as the late 80's), there were numerous times that he injured his hands trying to do place something in my mouth. It never stopped me from biting my tongue. I end up biting my tongue on the sides (and sometimes doing some serious damage) that lasts days. I've never bitten flesh off.

Note that there are two reasons that this myth has existed. One is that people have believed that one could bite one's tongue off

Two is that people have believe that one could swallow one's tongue unless an appropriate tongue suppressor, such as a belt, were put in place. A person cannot swallow their tongue.

For more information on this is myth, read here:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/firstaid/
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/firstaid.html#tonicclonic

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

Yup, I kinda knew that you were the epileptic in Elf's life. ^_^

As for everything that you say: Perfect. This is exactly the form of mythbusting I was looking for.


(On a personal note, Omaha, I regularly give my, "public service announcements," about mood disorders to people who spout misconceptions about antidepressants (hint: they're not happy pills) and also, more importantly, who don't seem to realize that when something horrible is happening to you, you're supposed to feel sad. And get moral+emotional support to heal. I always find giving reasons why the misconceptions are wrong busts them the most effectively. Hence my questions on epilepsy.)