Key points
- Students with epilepsy may need support during the school day.
- Some states require seizure first aid training for school staff.
- Free online training is available.
Why it matters
Children and teens spend much of the year at school. For many students, medicine controls their epilepsy — they can do what other kids do and do well in class. For others, school is harder:
- Side effects: some epilepsy medicines cause fatigue and memory problems.
- Mental health: some students experience anxiety and other problems.
- Stigma: some hide their epilepsy to avoid being shamed or bullied.
Students are safer when teachers, nurses, bus drivers and other staff learn about epilepsy — and staff can connect families with community resources.
State training requirements
Some states require a set number of school staff to be trained in seizure first aid. Check your state's rules through the Epilepsy Foundation.
Seizure action plans
School nurses should make sure every student with seizures has an action plan covering:
- triggers, if known;
- what to expect during a seizure;
- seizure first aid steps;
- instructions for rescue medicines;
- contacts for parents and health care providers.
Templates are available from the Epilepsy Foundation and the Seizure Action Plan Coalition.
Transitions and understanding
- Moving to adult care: the shift from pediatric to adult health care is hard; school nurses can guide families. With CDC support, the National Association of School Nurses created Supporting Students with Epilepsy: A Transition Toolkit and Transition for Students with Epilepsy: The Role of the School Nurse.
- Classmates: CDC supports free training to help school staff build understanding, and StopBullying.gov covers supporting students with special health needs and preventing bullying.
Free training
| For | Program | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| School nurses | Epilepsy Foundation seizure training series (continuing education credits) | caring for students; psychogenic seizures; rescue therapies |
| School nurses | National Association of School Nurses training on stigma and SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy), with CE credits | the impact of stigma and how to reduce it; understanding SUDEP; supporting families |
| Teachers, bus drivers and other staff | Epilepsy Foundation Seizure Training for School Personnel | recognizing seizures; seizure first aid; how epilepsy can affect a student |
Sources
Based on "Guidance for Schools," Epilepsy program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
이용 허락: CC0 1.0 (퍼블릭 도메인) · 출처 www.cdc.gov
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