Guide To A Safer Home With Epilepsy

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Today I’d like to share an article that was posted by My Epilepsy Team.

The article, 9 Ways To A Safer Home With Epilepsy, outlines 9 main ways to make your home safer while living with Epilepsy. I found it to be very instructive and applicable for a wide variety of homes/lifestyles!

The ideas are all very easy to incorporate into your daily lifestyle. None of them require a large overhaul of your home. It’s really just small changes to keep in mind, that could make a world of difference when a seizure occurs!

I’ve also added 4 of my own tips that I personally use. These are listed below, after the 9 outlined in the article.

Enjoy!

Here are the 9 tips from the article:

1. Cook in the microwave: Whenever possible, use the microwave as your main cooking method. It shuts itself off automatically and runs less of a risk of burning/scalding you when removing food. If the oven/stove is a MUST, then use oven mitts at all times and make use of the back burners of the stove. Also, have someone around whenever possible if you do not have a microwave and must use the oven or stove.
2. Use a food cart on wheels: Rather than carrying hot plates/pans/food trays from the kitchen over to the table. The cart on wheels will roll away if you fall during a seizure. Scalding dishes could shatter when dropped and not only cut you but also burn you severely.
3. Opt for carpeting: Wood and tile are very “in” right now, and easy to clean. However, carpet is much less slippery and will help cushion your fall during a seizure.
4. Use plastic containers rather than glass: In case of dropping a dish during a seizure, plastic containers won’t shatter and break. Glassware dishes will break and run the risk of cutting you if you happen to fall into the shards while seizing.
5. Install water temperature controls: These devices can be installed by a plumber and can keep you from getting burned if a seizure occurs while you’re in the shower. (I hadn’t ever heard of these devices before, but I’d like to look into one now!)
6. Do not lock your bathroom/bedroom doors: If someone needs to get to you during a seizure, an unlocked door will allow them to get to you more quickly. (My very first seizure occurred behind a locked bathroom door, and my dad & younger brother had to break the door lock open to get to me!)
7. Re-learn how to take a bath: If you take baths instead of showers, only fill the tub up with a few inches of water and then use the handheld sprayer to wash yourself. However, if you have frequent seizures, please be sure that someone is very nearby every time you bathe/shower.
8. Use padding: Special padding on the corners of tables/furniture/counters can greatly help protect you from injury in case of a fall during a seizure.
9. Avoid stairs: Living in a home or apartment without stairs eliminates the risk of stair injuries when falling during a seizure

I love how thorough and creative those tips are!

Now, here are 4 additional tips from my daily life that I’d like to add to the list:

1. Keep your phone close: I charge my phone at night and so it is attached to the wall. Arrange your room so that you can have an ottoman or night stand next to your bed. That way, if you feel a seizure aura coming on, you can call someone for help while still remaining in the safety of your bed.
2. Use a body pillow: Andy bought me a large body pillow and I use it as a bumper between myself and the edge of the bed. It’s the same concept as a baby bumper in a crib and honestly it really works! It doesn’t even let me roll over in my sleep so I feel more safe about not falling off the bed in case of a seizure.
3. Sit down: In addition to feeling exhausted most of the day, another reason to sit down frequently is to minimize the distance between yourself and the floor for when you do have a seizure. So, while you’re drying your hair, putting on makeup, brushing your teeth, talking on the phone, putting your shoes on, waiting for something to cook, etc… just sit down! It doesn’t take up any extra time and will help you in the long run.
4. Use emergency pulls while exercising: I don’t have a treadmill or anything at my home, but when I do use them I make sure to attach the emergency clip to my shirt. These clips are attached to the workout machines (usually by a magnet) and when the magnet is detached (from someone falling over or stepping off the machine) the motor will automatically stop. Give it a try next time you’re on one, you’ll be amazed at how quickly that little string can stop the entire machine!

Well, that’s all for today! If you have any other daily tips/tricks for a safer home and lifestyle while living with Epilepsy, please feel free to contact me and let me know! I’d love to hear what ways others have come up with to help safeguard themselves.

Thanks again for reading and don’t forget to Seize The Day!