Safety

Inside

• Use long, heavy duty oven mitts or holders when reaching into a hot oven.
• Avoid space heaters that can tip over.
• Put guards around the fireplace or, preferably, close fireplace screens while a fire is burning.

Outside

• If you ski or hike, go with a friend; you may need someone to get help if you have a seizure in remote areas.
• Consider use of a safety strap and hook when riding the ski lift.
• Wear head protection when playing contact sports or when there is an added risk of falling or head injury.

House Safety Tips

• Carpet the floors in your house or apartment with heavy pile and thick under padding.
• Pad sharp corners of tables and other furniture; look for rounded corners when you shop.
• Put guards around the fireplace or, preferably, close fireplace screens while a fire is burning.
• Don't smoke or light fires when you're by yourself.
• Don't carry hot fireplace ashes or lighted candles through the house.
• Avoid space heaters that can tip over.
• Use curling irons or clothing irons with automatic shut off switches to prevent burns.
• Select chairs with arms to prevent falling.
• Make sure motor-driven equipment, such as a lawn mower, has a handle that will stop the machine if your hand releases normal pressure.

Bathroom Safety Tips

• Hang bathroom doors so they open outwards instead of inwards (so that if someone falls against the door, it can still be opened).
• Put extra padding under carpeting in the bathroom.
• Hang an "occupied" sign on the outside handle of the bathroom door, instead of locking it.
• Routinely check that the bathroom drain works properly before taking a bath or shower.
• If you fall frequently during seizures, consider using a shower or tub seat with a safety strap.
• Consider using a hand held shower nozzle while seated in tub or shower.
• Set water temperature low so that you won't be burned if you lose consciousness while hot water is running.
• Avoid using electrical appliances, such as a hair dryer or electric razor, in the bathroom or near water.

Safety for Children

It's easy to worry if your child has a disabling condition like epilepsy, but you can make your house and everyday activities safer with a few simple adjustments:

• A monitor in your child's bedroom may alert you to the sound of a typical seizure.
• Avoid top bunks. A lower bunk, a regular bed, a futon or even a mattress on the floor is a safer place to sleep for a child with seizures.
• A well fitting-helmet with a face guard may protect against head and facial injuries from severe drop seizures.
• Have your child wear a life vest when near water, including the backyard pool.
• Closely supervise showers.
• Put a list of first-aid steps on the refrigerator or some other place where it's easy to find.
• When you have babysitters, go over first-aid steps, write down the phone number where you or a relative can be reached; include the doctor's number and the one for the emergency squad on the same sheet.
• If your child is going to sleep at a friend's or relative's house overnight, make sure a copy of the list goes along, too, and that an adult in the house knows what to expect and what to do if a seizure happens.
• Not every childhood injury is preventable, whether or not a child has seizures. Try to strike a balance between safety and overprotection.