Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures. Seizures involve sudden, temporary bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Every brain has the potential to seize. If a person has two or more recurrent seizures, it is considered epilepsy.
There are 470,000 children living with epilepsy in the U.S. Since children spend so many waking hours in school settings, it is critical that all school personnel, including nurses, know what epilepsy is, learn how to recognize seizures, and administer seizure first aid. For students living with epilepsy, schools must be well-equipped with the personnel and tools necessary to provide a safe and enriching environment.
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Epilepsy Foundation designed a series of seizure training courses for school nurses and people who work with children and youth in school settings. The training focuses on the basics of epilepsy, procedures for responding to someone having a seizure, information about Seizure Action Plans, rescue medicines, and seizure emergencies.
We are excited to collaborate with the National Association of School of Nurses to bring this seizure first aid trainings to you and help drive education about epilepsy and seizures in underrepresented communities. I invite you to join me on June 30 at your annual conference, where I will be facilitating the “Seizure Training for School Nurses: Caring for Students.” In the training, I will provide you with information, strategies, and resources to help you better manage students with seizures.
If you are unable to attend this training, I encourage you to visit our Epilepsy Learning Portal and take one of the trainings we offer On-Demand:
Seizure Training for School Nurses: Caring for Students
Seizure Training for School Nurses: Caring for Students with Psychogenic Seizures
Seizure Training for School Nurses: Using Rescue Therapies in Epilepsy Care
Seizure Training for School Personnel
The Epilepsy Foundation has also embarked on a nationwide initiative to pass Seizure Safe Schools legislation in all states to raise awareness and implement a uniform standard of care and response across the country so that students have access to the care they need and can reach their full academic potential. To date, versions of the Foundation’s model bill have been enacted in 14 states.
For more information about our trainings or Seizure Safe Schools initiative, visit epilepsy.com.