Emergency rescue management
We worked with pharmaceutical company Viropharma on an educational campaign aimed at supporting parents and carers of children with epilepsy
The campaign aims to raise awareness of good practice in implementing rescue management of prolonged, acute, convulsive seizures in children, with the aim of reducing the risk of progression to status epilepticus and its associated risks.
Parents, carers and education providers should be aware of the five steps they should take when a child or young person has a prolonged seizure:
- Note the time when the seizure started.
- Clear the area to allow the child to move freely and safely.
- Administer rescue medication if the seizure lasts for 5 minutes or more (usually after 5 minutes in convulsive seizures).
- Reassure and monitor the child.
- Call an ambulance if the seizure continues for 5 minutes after giving rescue medication.
“As most prolonged, acute, convulsive seizures, occur in the community, whether or not children receive the immediate treatment needed as prescribed by their doctor, depends on the presence of a parent, teacher or carer, who is trained and able to administer rescue medication.
“It’s vital anyone working with children with epilepsy be familiar with emergency rescue medication. We hope that by promoting these five simple steps for parents and carers of young people with epilepsy to follow, they will feel more confident in providing rescue medication when required, and help prevent possible serious health consequences from a prolonged seizure.”
Young Epilepsy Interim Chief Executive Lisa Farmer
Emergency rescue medication
The vast majority of seizures stop by themselves without the need for any treatment. However sometimes a medical emergency known as status epilepticus can occur.
Young Epilepsy is the operating name of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy Charitable Trust.