This leaflet aims to show that, with a few sensible precautions, people with epilepsy can enjoy all the benefits of swimming quite safely.
Swimming is often a very sociable activity.
Children, for example, may feel left out if they are barred from swimming just because of epilepsy, while all their classmates are playing or learning to swim in the pool. Such segregation increases the feeling of being 'different' or an outsider. Other children may then react unfavourably and the child with epilepsy can feel rejected. Often, those of us with epilepsy may want to swim, but are prevented by family, friends, teachers or swimming pool staff. Other people sometimes imagine the worst and decide on our behalf that it is not worth the risk.