Don’t Panic: A Parent’s Guide to Dealing with Cerebral Palsy Seizures

If your child has cerebral palsy, he or she may also suffer from seizures. Nearly half of all children diagnosed with cerebral palsy experience seizures; one-third have a seizure disorder such as epilepsy. Seizures are extremely scary for a parent, but knowing why they happen and what to do can help.
Seizures occur when brain cells involuntarily fire causing the muscles they control to contract. When the brain cells stop firing, the seizure ends. There is nothing you can do to stop a seizure. Your job is to keep your child safe. After the seizure your doctor will want information. So, you’ll need to pay attention.
Take note of:

• At what time did the seizure start?
• How long did the seizure last?
• What was your child doing before the seizure?
• Did anything appear to trigger the seizure?
• Which body parts were affected by the seizure?
• How did those body parts move?
• Did your child seem stiff or limp?
• Did your child’s eyes move during the seizure?
• Did your child experience any auras, including changes in vision, hearing, or taste?
• Did your child lose consciousness?
• Did your child seem confused or unaware during or after the seizure?
• Did your child suffer a headache, drowsiness, or other side-effects from the seizure?
• Was your child injured?

Keep your child safe:

• Stay calm. If you get upset, your child might also become frightened or upset.
• Lay your child down on his side. Put a pillow or soft toy under his or her head.
• Loosen any tight clothing.
• Don’t put anything in your child’s mouth. This won’t protect your child and may cause breathing problems.
• Move any heavy or sharp objects out of your child’s way.
• Don’t interfere with the seizure. Don’t try to keep your child still; this may lead to injury.

Call 911 if:

• Your child has difficulty breathing
• Your child’s skin becomes pale, flushed, or blue during the seizure
• The seizure lasts more than 10 to 15 minutes
• Your child suffers repeating seizures with no rest period in between.

If your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by a birth injury, request your free copy of Dallas birth injury attorney Jeff Rasansky’s book, Cerebral Palsy and Medical Negligence. To learn more about Texas cerebral palsy lawsuits, contact the Rasansky Law Firm at (214) 651-6100.