Seizure action plans

Why is it important to have a seizure action plan?

Your family plays a critical role in your child’s seizure management. Understanding your child’s epilepsy and responding to seizures quickly and in the best way helps to keep your child safe.

Seizure action plans can help you organize your seizure information and have it available when and where you need it. A written seizure action plan helps you and other prevent an emergency and know what to do in emergency situations. You can also adapt these plans to different situations in your life.

Being prepared can allow your child to participate in life and their usual activities without seizures, or the fear of seizures, stopping you.

What does a seizure action plan include?

• Seizure information – each type of seizure your child has, how long each type of seizure lasts, how often your child experiences each type of seizure and what happens (or what each seizure type looks like).

• How to respond to a seizure

• Seizure First Aid

• When rescue therapy may be needed and what to do

• Care after a seizure

• Special instructions

• Other information – this includes things like triggers, allergies, past epilepsy surgeries, and devices or diet therapy your child uses

• Health care contacts

Completing a seizure action plan

In May 2022, the Epilepsy Foundation began providing seizure action plans to all of our patients two years and older who are taking rescue medications. Their aim is to ensure that you, your family, daycare or school and any other caregivers have the necessary tools and know how to respond if your child experiences a seizure while in their care.

For children in daycare or school, seizure action plans are likely to require updating annually. We encourage you to talk with your doctor at your visits and update the plan before the start of each school year if possible. You can also reach out to request updated seizure actions plans by phone or MyChart, if needed.

Adapted from original article by the Epilepsy Foundation.