Safety For Children With Epilepsy

Key points about safety for children with epilepsy

• treat your child normally, just as you did before they had epilepsy 
• your child's healthcare team will give you advice about keeping your child with epilepsy safe
• the advice will depend on the type and frequency of your child's seizures

Do I need to do anything differently now that my child has epilepsy?

Treat your child normally, just as you did before they had epilepsy. 

There are some situations where having a seizure could be dangerous. Your child's healthcare team will give you advice about keeping your child with epilepsy safe. The advice will depend on the type and frequency of your child's seizures.

Showers are safer than baths

If your child has a bath, someone should be in the room with them to help them if they have a seizure. If they have a bath, keep the bath water level very shallow.

For older tamariki (children), that might mean leaving the bathroom door slightly open and someone talking to them from the other side of the door, or using a baby monitor.  

If your child has a shower, leave the door unlocked. An outward opening or sliding  bathroom door is safer as it means you can open the door if your child has a seizure by the door.

Take extra care near water

Swimming is an important skill to learn for all tamariki. But if your child has epilepsy, take extra care near water. There should be someone watching your child closely while they are in the water at all times. The person should be close enough (and have the skills) to be able to get your child out of the water if they have a seizure. 

A child can drown if they have a seizure while swimming with no one there to help them. Your child should never swim alone.

Ask your doctor what's right for your child.

Stay safe while biking

Your child should always wear a helmet while on a bike. Biking on the footpath is fine but they should not bike on the road until their epilepsy is well controlled by medicine.

Avoid climbing trees

Your child should avoid climbing trees. Playing in a playground is fine, as even tamariki without seizures fall off this equipment. People design playgrounds with safety in mind.