Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people
Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people
Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more
Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures (sometimes called fits). Seizures occur when there is a sudden burst of excess electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption in the normal passing of message between brain cells. There are many different types of seizure and how someone reacts will vary, depending on where in the brain epileptic activity begins.
Many people with epilepsy do not know what causes it, but once diagnosed, it is often treated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Modern AEDs can be very effective.
Certain factors make seizures more likely for some people with epilepsy. These are often referred to as ‘triggers’. Triggers can include stress, not sleeping well or drinking too much alcohol. Some people have found that they have more seizures if they miss meals. Not taking epilepsy medication is another common trigger. However, it is important to remember that not all people with epilepsy know what triggers their seizures.
Some, but not all, people with epilepsy will not be able to drive, either temporarily or permanently. This should be taken into account if you have an adult volunteer with epilepsy.
Seizures can be manifested in many different ways. However, there are a few practical actions to take in the event of an epileptic seizure occurring.
Incidents and Illness
What to do in case of an accident, first aid and reporting.
Find out more about first aid