Seizures can seriously damage your health if they are not diagnosed and treated early. Yet the average waiting time to see an epilepsy expert is six months. Unfortunately, epilepsy has been a Cinderella condition in the NHS - given low priority and little funding. Good health in 2001 is a wish that deserves to come true - and we can all live happily ever after. A teacher may be the first adult to witness a child having an epileptic seizure, for epilepsy can affect anyone at any age.
Epilepsy is the world's most common, serious neurological condition.
Epilepsy affects 1 in 200 adults but is more prevalent in childhood where one pupil in every 100 is likely to have this brain disorder. An awareness of epilepsy helps teachers to recognise and deal with seizures effectively. Epilepsy awareness training is not mandatory either in the trainee teacher curriculum or after graduation. The booklet clearly describes what epilepsy is, why it occurs and gives common examples of seizure behaviour as well as first aid tips for dealing with seizures in school and a useful check list when speaking to the child's parents and relevant agencies. The majority of youngsters with epilepsy in mainstream education will have their condition well controlled with medication and will pose few problems to staff.