Seizures and You: Take Charge of the Facts

Students in Juanita Cox's health classes at Escambia County High School recently participated in the Epilepsy Foundation's National Epilepsy Awareness program for teens "Take Charge of the Facts." The training module presented by Caroline Foster, Public Relations Director, is a multimedia epilepsy awareness program and curricula designed for middle and high school students to recognize seizures and respond with appropriate first aid. There are many myths and inaccurate perceptions about epilepsy which endanger students with epilepsy. They can be treated unfairly, ostracized and excluded. Studetns lean to recognize a seizure, what do do when a seizure occurs, and importantly what not to do.

Seizures occur in schools and classrooms across the United States Every Dday therefore, epilepsy education is very important to teens.Recent studies show that at least one percent of people in the United States have active epilepsy.

Results of a national survey conducted by the Epilepsy Foundation indicate there is a widespread lack of knowledge about epilepsy among teens. Many teens thought epilepsy was a mental illness or might be contagious. Others belieeved that people with epilepsy couldn't work or attend regular schools. Some teens still believe that a person having a seizure could swallow their tongue. This lack of understanding and misinformation often results in teens with epilepsy being teased and feeling socially isolated and pressured to keep their seizures a secret.

The participation of Escambia County High school stduents in Juanita Cox's health classes was instrumental in the development of this national trianing module. It insured that the program successfully educates teens about epilepsy and basic seizure first aid.