Wheelchair

If someone starts to have a seizure while confined in a wheelchair, seated on a bus, train or tram or strapped in a pram or stroller:

DO:

  • Protect the person by preventing them from falling if there is no seat belt
  • Make sure the wheelchair or the stroller is secure
  • Protect the person by supporting their head. Something soft under the head will help if there is no moulded headrest
  • Check whether you need to move any hard objects that might hurt arms and legs in particular
  • Consciousness usually returns within a few minutes
  • Reassure the person and tell them what has happened

NB: When the seizure has finished you need to ensure their airway is clear.  This may involve removing food or vomit from their mouth and supporting their head to maintain a clear airway.  It may or may not be appropriate to remove the person from the chair a the end of the seizure.  This will depend on your assessment of the safety issues involved both for you and for them.

DO NOT:
  • Try to stop the seizure
  • Put anything in the persons mouth
  • Try to remove them from their position, in most cases the seat provides some support
Call an ambulance – 000 – if:
  • The seizure activity lasts 5 or more minutes or a second seizure quickly follows
  • The person remains non-responsive for more than 5 minutes after the seizure stops
  • The person is having a greater number of seizures than is usual for them
  • The person is injured, goes blue in the face or has swallowed water
  • The person is pregnant
  • You know, or believe it to be, the person’s first seizure
  • You feel uncomfortable dealing with the seizure at the time

Click hyperlink to your Wheelchair First Aid Poster.

Information from the Epilepsy Australia webpage.

National Help Line

1300 852 853

Opening Hours

Monday – Thursday 9am – 4pm

FridayClosed

Saturday – SundayClosed

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