My child has cerebral palsy from a birth injury. The doctor said that because of the area of the brain that was damaged, she is likely to have seizures. What should I do during a seizure?

Approximately half of all children diagnosed with cerebral palsy suffer from seizures. Seizures can be very stressful for a parent, but knowing what to do to help your child can make them less scary.

You may have heard that you should put a towel or cloth in the child’s mouth to keep them from biting their tongue. This is not true, and may be dangerous. Our Tennessee birth injury lawyers suggest following these instructions from Cerebral Palsy Source.

Stay calm.
You can’t stop the seizure. Your job is to monitor the seizure and make sure your child isn’t hurt.
Don’t try to hold your child still or interfere with the seizure.
Pay attention to the seizure. Your doctor will need to know the following:
Did your child experience any visual changes or unusual feelings, tastes or sounds?
Did anything trigger the seizure?
What time did the seizure start?
How long did it last?
Which body parts were affected?
How did those parts move?
Were there any eye movements?
Did your child lose consciousness?
Was your child confused during or after the seizure?
Were there any injuries?
Did your child experience any headaches, drowsiness or other effects from the seizure?
If your child is sitting or standing when the seizure begins, lay her down on her side. Put a pillow or other soft support under her head.
Move any furniture and sharp objects out of the way.
Loosen any restrictive clothing, especially around the stomach and chest.
Never put anything in your child’s mouth. This can interfere with breathing or even cause a tooth injury.
Watch your child to make sure he or she is breathing. If your child stops breathing, clear his or her airway and perform mouth-to-mouth breathing.
If any of the following conditions occur, call 911:
Breathing difficulties
Color change during the seizure
Seizure lasts more than 10-15 minutes
Repetitive seizures occur with no rest or recovery in between
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy caused by a birth injury, ask for your free copy of our book, How to Cope With and Survive Tennessee Birth Injuries.To discuss your child’s situation with a Memphis birth injury attorney and learn more about Tennessee cerebral palsy lawsuits, contact Bailey and Greer at 888-470-9143.