Open communication needs to be established with the employee concerned who is in the best position to know what should be done about seizures. He can be encouraged to carry essential information about his epilepsy with him (e.g. a card or bracelet). It is a good idea is that the PwE confides in someone in their team in order to be sure that the correct actions are taken in the case of a seizure. It is reassuring for the person to know that they are supported and safe. This peace of mind can make all the difference in creating a workplace that encompasses the same sense of security that one might find at home.

For every companies, in the event that a seizure does occur in the workplace, a plan of action will come in handy and is therefore recommended. However, the focus is on the correct application of workplace safety protocols and risk assessment, rather than on epilepsy as such.

Everyone at the workplace needs to be aware of the plan and prepared in case a seizure should occur. Each person needs to know what to do and how to quickly respond. A plan of action can be elaborated by the employee and employer and should include information such as:

  • Emergency contact information.
  • Warning signals that can be seen or heard.
  • When and how to give on-site medical care.
  • When and how to call for an ambulance.
  • Who should be named as emergency personnel.
  • Who to designate as emergency responders.
  • Where to get assistance.
  • How to train coworkers about epilepsy.

When a plan of action is correctly carried out, coworkers or clients who witness an employee having a seizure at work may feel less uncertain, alarmed, or afraid. When the plan of action is “in action,” one designated person should call an emergency contact immediately. Another designated person watches over the person. Everyone is ready for emergencies, can recognize them, and knows how to react to them, so nobody overreacts.

During or after a seizure, PwE may cry, drool, spit, or urinate and this may require the person take time following a seizure to clean themselves up and change their clothes. Employers can make it clear to employees that they understand this need and adapt in order to simplify the task for them by the following actions.

  • The employee should be encouraged to keep a change of clothes at work
  • A private space for personal grooming and regaining composure should be provided.

While a lot of PwE may not have seizures, 1 in 20 people will have a one off seizure in their lifetime.

Reflective exercise

Putting in place an action plan to deal with an epileptic seizure is a tricky business.  How should you proceed in the event of a seizure, balancing respect for the privacy of the person with epilepsy and the effectiveness of the people around him or her?