Taking additional precautions to guarantee safety in and around water is crucial for all individuals, with particular emphasis on those with epilepsy. In Northeastern New York, June marks the beginning of various water-related activities due to the increasing temperatures. Nevertheless, water safety is a significant issue that should be addressed throughout the year, including within our homes.
Water safety can be applicable in our home during activities like swimming in pools, hot tub usage, and even while bathing. Each of these activities presents varied risk levels for all individuals, however these risks are higher for those who have seizures. Safety measures around water within the home during an activity such as bathing may include; taking showers instead of baths, leaving the bathroom door unlocked, and only bathing when others are present in the home. If taking a bath cannot be avoided extra safety measures are recommended. These extra safety measures could include planning your bath when someone is around, ensuring a level of supervision and refraining from turning on loud music or other loud sounds. Supervision while bathing can still allow for the individual’s privacy with methods such as keeping the shower curtain drawn and having the individual take a bath maintain consistent communication.
The most common place where children and adults with epilepsy drown while having a seizure is in the bathtub 1 . It is important to always stay vigilant in the home and ensure that if the individual can bathe independently, that they take showers instead of baths.
It is important to note that overheating can be a trigger for some individuals to have seizures, so the heightened water temperatures in hot tubs and some baths may put individuals at increased risk for seizures. Our hope is for everyone to live their lives with minimal constraints while implementing habits to ensure safety for themselves and others. Our team at EFNENY encourages everyone to take note of possible dangers and to practice safety measures that can reduce potential risks that could lead to serious injuries or even death. The risk of overheating triggering seizures is also important to be mindful of while engaging in outdoor activities this summer. Staying hydrated and trying to stay inside or in the shade on hot days are two great ways to limit yourself from overheating. Staying in shaded areas, wearing sunglasses and sunscreen are also important summer safety habits to limit the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Warm days typically mean days spent outdoors on a boat, fishing, or swimming in different bodies of water. To ensure water safety while enjoying these activities, it is advisable never to swim, fish, or boat alone. Always have another person who can react to an emergency with you when engaging in any of these activities. It is also important to wear a life jacket while in or around bodies of water, even if you know how to swim. Individuals who have seizures are ten times1 more likely to die from drowning than those who do not, regardless of their ability to swim. Seizures tend to happen unexpectedly, and you may not have time to warn others or get yourself to a safer location before losing consciousness or awareness. While fishing in or by a body of water, ensure that you are safely and securely up on the shore and aware of any potential dangers around you. It is important to remember that while you may not plan to enter the body of water, water safety is still equally as important as if you were. Bring a buddy and make sure they are aware of your seizure action plan.
The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York encourages everyone to have a fun, safe summer season. If you are interested in learning more about seizure first aid or how to stay safe this summer, please reach out to our team by calling (518)456-7501 or visiting our website for additional resources.
References:
1: Bain, E., Keller, A. E., Jordan, H., Robyn, W., Pollanen, M. S., Williams, A. S., & Donner, E. J. (2018). Drowning in epilepsy: A population-based case series. Epilepsy Research, 145, 123–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2018.06.010