Seizure Action Plan Awareness week is an awareness event held the second week of February every year to complement International Epilepsy Day, which is celebrated every year on the second Monday in February. In 2026, International Epilepsy Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 9th marking the start of Seizure Action Plan Awareness week, which will be recognized from February 9th to February 15th.
Seizures are often unpredictable and can be frightening for the person they are happening to, as well as the people around them. Knowing how to respond to seizures is crucial in ensuring safety and minimizing risks. One productive way to address this concern is by creating a seizure action plan.
What is a seizure action plan?
A seizure action plan is a document created to provide information about how to respond in the event of a seizure. This plan details how the individual’s seizures present and what the proper response should be. This document is typically created by a person who has seizures or their guardian in tandem with their medical care providers.
What is included in a seizure action plan?
- Seizure Information: A description of the specific activities that occur before, during, and after a seizure as well as the frequency and length of typical seizures
- Seizure First Aid: How to effectively respond when a seizure occurs
- Seizure Emergencies: When to call 911
- Rescue Medication Administration: Information about any rescue medications that are prescribed to the individual including dosage, where the medication is, and how to administer
- Treatment Method: What medications or devices are currently being utilized to reduce seizure frequency
- Aftercare: How to help after the seizure has ended
- Contact Information: Emergency contact information as well as health care contacts
- Triggers: What may provoke a seizure
- Important Health Information: Anything emergency responders may need to know about the person if they are unable to share during a seizure, including allergies
Who should have seizure action plans?
Everyone who has a history of any type of seizure should have an up-to-date seizure action plan.
Why are they important?
Seizure action plans help to increase the safety of people living with seizures through a few different measures. Seizure action plans help individuals who are otherwise potentially uneducated in seizure recognition and first aid to better understand what to look for and what to do if a person they know has a seizure.
Seizure action plans provide the opportunity for individualized response procedures, helping increase the confidence of peers as well as caretakers in their ability to recognize and respond to a seizure if one is to happen while they are around.
Who should have access to my seizure action plan?
Who has access to an individual’s seizure action plans is completely up to the discretion of the individual living with seizures or their guardian. Some pre-schools, daycares, and school districts may require individuals living with seizures to have a seizure action plan up to date and on file with the school nurse. It is recommended that anyone who may be in a supervisory or caretaking role of the person living with seizures has access to their seizure action plan. This could include schoolteachers, transportation staff, lunch monitors, hall monitors, babysitters, human resources or a direct supervisor, or other family members who may be close to the individual regularly.
How frequently should a seizure action plan be updated?
Seizure action plans should be updated at least annually, or whenever there is a change in seizure activity or treatment plans as advised by a person’s healthcare team. Seizure action plan awareness week is a great opportunity annually to make sure your seizure action plan is up to date and accurate.
How can I get involved with Seizure Action Plan awareness week?
While seizure action plan awareness week occurs only one week every year, it is important to stay diligent about sharing seizure safety information 365 days a year. If you are an individual living with seizures, make sure to keep your seizure action plan up to date and share the most recent copies with the individuals you feel comfortable sharing this information with.
If you are interested in learning more about how to recognize and respond to seizures, look into attending a Seizure Recognition and First Aid certification classes held by your local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate.
