Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSEpilepsy iPhone app released
An iPhone app that gives essential information about epilepsy is being released to make young people more aware of the condition.
The National Society for Epilepsy’s app gives essential first aid information, including a step by step guide to the recovery position, and basic information about epilepsy.
NSE communications manager Amanda Cleaver said: “Epilepsy is the UK’s most common serious neurological condition and it is likely that someone, at some time, might need to help a person having a seizure.
“Epilepsy is a very complex condition which is surrounded by myths and misconceptions. Shockingly some people still believe you should hold a person down during a convulsive seizure and put a spoon in their mouth. There are around 40 different types of seizure. Not all seizures involve losing consciousness or convulsions. Knowing how to help someone can help reduce misconceptions.
“This app, the first of its kind for epilepsy, has been developed after consultation with students and we hope it will have particular appeal to young people.”
The Epilepsy Guide app will be available to download free of charge from the apple iStore from National Epilepsy Week, from 13-19 June.
“As the theme of the awareness week this year is epilepsy and young people, we thought it was an appropriate time to launch the app,” added Cleaver.
NSE is now looking at ways of further developing the app as a tool for seizure and medication management.
Epilepsy first aid
- Keep calm
- Check your watch to note the time
- Cushion the person’s head
- Put them into the recovery position after the convulsions (shaking) stop
- Stay with them until they have recovered and their breathing has gone back to normal
- If the seizure doesn’t stop after 5 minutes, call for an ambulance
- Don’t hold them down
- Don’t put anything in their mouth
- Don’t move them unless they are in direct danger.
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