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As someone who's mom suffered from seizures a lot, it's complete BS. The best you can do is keep away any objects that can hurt them, their teeth automatically clench, "putting a spoon in their mouth" isn't not only NOT helpful, but dangerous. Where did this myth come from?
A spoon is usually handy around the house. It's can be used in seizures to maintain an open airway potentially compromised by the tongue. Most seizures are self-limited and last no longer than you can hold your breathe, so the spoon thing isn't usually necessary, but can be an important adjunct in a prolonged seizure. The spoon can also break teeth or actually block the airway when not used properly....
...You're right-- an observer's first intention should be to get the pt to where they can't fall helplessly and to clear the area of objects that may injure a pt thrashing about wildly.
We kept a tongue depressor wrapped in first aid tape in the bathroom in case dad had a grand mal seizure. The point was to prevent him from biting his own tongue off. He'd bite down on that instead.
As someone who's mom suffered from seizures a lot, it's complete BS. The best you can do is keep away any objects that can hurt them, their teeth automatically clench, "putting a spoon in their mouth" isn't not only NOT helpful, but dangerous. Where did this myth come from?
A spoon - a piece of metal, is NOT the recommended thing to use.
A spoon is usually handy around the house. It's can be used in seizures to maintain an open airway potentially compromised by the tongue. Most seizures are self-limited and last no longer than you can hold your breathe, so the spoon thing isn't usually necessary, but can be an important adjunct in a prolonged seizure. The spoon can also break teeth or actually block the airway when not used properly....
...You're right-- an observer's first intention should be to get the pt to where they can't fall helplessly and to clear the area of objects that may injure a pt thrashing about wildly.
BS, never ever try to put a spoon or anything in a persons mouth during a seizure
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerobime227
As someone who's mom suffered from seizures a lot, it's complete BS. The best you can do is keep away any objects that can hurt them, their teeth automatically clench, "putting a spoon in their mouth" isn't not only NOT helpful, but dangerous. Where did this myth come from?
Exactly I also have family members that suffer from seizures. That's over 40 years experience dealing with people with seizures.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghaati
We kept a tongue depressor wrapped in first aid tape in the bathroom in case dad had a grand mal seizure. The point was to prevent him from biting his own tongue off. He'd bite down on that instead.
That is also wrong. Most seizures end before that would ever happen. If not, the person would possibly be dead from blood loss of the chewed up tongue before it's severed.
If a person is having a Tonic Clonic / Gran Mal / Convulsive Seizure:
DO: make sure they are in a safe location. Loosen tight clothing if needed. Get them down on their side to prevent choking on possible vomit. Time the seizure. Call 911 if the person is injured before, during seizure. Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, and the person doesn't come out of it.
Call 911 if the person has repeated seizures.
DO NOT: Restrain the person, or put anything in their mouth.
As someone who's mom suffered from seizures a lot, it's complete BS. The best you can do is keep away any objects that can hurt them, their teeth automatically clench, "putting a spoon in their mouth" isn't not only NOT helpful, but dangerous. Where did this myth come from?
It came from the place where many outdated pieces of advice come from: The Past.
The Past also said you should cut an X on a snakebite and try to suck the venom out, and give lobotomies to people.
Not sure where this came from. I’m a somewhat younger Internist/Preventive Medicine MD and that is not part of training. You NEVER put anything in anyone’s mouth during a seizure.
You first try to make sure there are no objects that are around that could hurt the person. You turn them to the side to prevent possible aspiration of things like lose teeth and to help with breathing. Then you monitor them and allow the seizure to pass.
Additional information: A poster makes a good point about tongue biting. If that has been an issue, certain physicians have prescribed certain devices to try to prevent it. Although this is something you would want to discuss with a neurologist. Sometimes mouth-guard type devices (that some can wear if they feel like a seizure may be coming on) or other customized devices can be prescribed for those with a history of tongue biting. But as a general rule of thumb, you do NOT put anything in a person’s mouth who is having a seizure.
Last edited by personone; 08-21-2022 at 08:20 AM..
Reason: Additional information
We kept a tongue depressor wrapped in first aid tape in the bathroom in case dad had a grand mal seizure. The point was to prevent him from biting his own tongue off. He'd bite down on that instead.
This is true to some degree, that protecting tongue biting is a consideration. although it’s best to check with a neurologists. The problem with tongue depressors is that pieces of them can be bitten off and then aspirated, which is a bigger problem than biting the tongue. There are some devices (like mouth guards) that can be fabricated if tongue biting is an issue that are safer than putting objects in the mouth.
Has anyone ever ACTUALLY bitten off their tongue during a seizure?
My partner just had a seizure for the first time a couple of weeks ago. No doctor said to put anything in his mouth, just to turn him to the size, put two Ativan under his tongue, and let him sleep it off.
He's now on an anti-seizure med and hasn't had any more.
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Exactly I also have family members that suffer from seizures. That's over 40 years experience dealing with people with seizures.
That is also wrong. Most seizures end before that would ever happen. If not, the person would possibly be dead from blood loss of the chewed up tongue before it's severed.
