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These tips have been contributed by other parents, carers and professionals. We hope they will give you some ideas to try, but if you need further help why not post a question on our forums or talk to our site experts.
Reach for the shades
A pair of polarised/UVA/UVB sunglasses can really help with indoor/outdoor photosensitivity. They may help seizures triggered by light, TV, candles, cameras, fluorescent lights etc.
Free anti-suffocation pillows
Epilepsy Sucks UK is a national charity which raises funds to give children & adults in the UK living with epilepsy FREE anti-suffocation pillows. To find out more visit esuk.uk.com
Foreign language information
Epilepsy Action provides information leaflets in other languages. Useful if you are travelling abroad: (freephone) 0808 800 5050 www.epilepsy.org.uk
Monitors
I bought a cheap digital video monitor for my daughter from www.easylinkuk.co.uk. It works really well and doesn't interfere with her epilepsy monitor.
Mobile tracking
For more independence for the person with seizures, you can download epdetect to both your mobile phones, and should a seizure occur when you are apart you (the carer) will be alerted as to where the person is and can assist them more quickly.
Dressing for mobile EEGs
If the person you are caring for is having an ambulatory eeg, remember to make sure they are dressed in easy to remove clothes. Button down shirts, cardigans etc rather than tshirts/jumpers which are tight to pull over the head. Might sound like stating the obvious but its easy to forget (I did!).
General safety advice
Seizure Tracker
iTunes store has a free app for tracking and recording seizure activity. SeizureTracker.com helps manage epilepsy and store a record of seizures in a library, which you can edit at any time to add additional information, such as triggers, seizure description, what happened afterwards etc. itunes.apple.com/gb/app/seizure-log/id410716391?mt=8
Corner cushions
Corner cushions/protectors on the corners of radiators, furniture etc can protect people if they fall. You can buy these at Boots, Mothercare, Argos and large DIY stores.
Safety glass/film
Ensure all glass in tables, doors, windows etc is safety glass. If it is not possible to replace glass, you can buy safety glass film in DIY shops or Mothercare.
Doors
Ideally, doors should open in both directions. Sliding doors, concertina door or doors that open outwards are a good compromise.
Wall padding
If someone you are supporting with epilepsy tends to fall in the same place you can use wall padding in that area. You can get it from a number of suppliers.
Radiator guards
You can buy radiator guards in a wide range of varieties. The most common and easiest to find and fit are wooden and available in DIY stores. You can also get radiator guards made of padded material which protect against the heat and any sharp edges.
Keep it thick
A thicker carpet can decrease the incidence of hip fractures or other serious injuries from falling.
Soft Floor
You can get multi-purpose, interlocking jigsaw floor mats made from soft-closed cell EVA foam and rubber. Low-cost, low-maintenance and safer for falls. www.softfloor.co.uk
Door hinges
Make a door swing out of a room instead into the room, especially the bathroom, by changing the hinges. You don't want to be hitting the person you care for with the door in the event of them having a seizure.
Safety in the kitchen
Keep it on the back burner
Encourage the person you are supporting to use the back rings or burners rather than the front.
Cooker guard
Fit a cooker guard around the front of the hob so that rings or burners are harder to touch by accident. Ikea sells one.
Use a trolley
Encourage the person you are supporting to use a trolley to transport food from the kitchen to the eating area.
Food processors
Encourage the person you are supporting to use food processors and choppers instead of knives.
Touch-close handles
Replace kitchen cupboard handles with touch-close mechanisms so there is nothing protruding for people to fall against.
Safety in the bedroom
Low-level bed
A low-level bed, a futon or a three-in-one bed can reduce the risk for someone prone to falling out of bed.
Anti-suffocation pillows
Anti-suffocation pillows can be funded through the charity Epilepsy Sucks UK. See the website for further details esuk.uk.com
Also available for purchase from this website, provided by a pharmacist in the UK who had a son with epilepsy: www.sleep-safe.co.uk
Avoid bed-side tables
Keep furniture away from the side of the bed (especially bed-side tables).
Night-time seizures
A wrist rattle will alert you to night-time seizures if your child has epilepsy. For bigger children you can make your own by attaching bells to a hair band. There are obviously more sophisticated alarms out there, but this is a simple solution while you are waiting for assesments etc.
Safety in the garden
Safety in the bathroom
Bean bags
Place two large waterproof beanbags in the bath when not in use. This will reduce the risk if the person falls into the bath when in the bathroom. Bean bags are available from a range of shops including Tesco, Matalan and Au Naturale.
Towels
Place a few thick towels along the edge of the bath when the bath is not in use. This will reduce the risk of injury if the person falls onto the edge of the bath.
Sound monitor
A sound monitor in the bathroom can ensure privacy yet still allow carers to hear if you need assistance.
Less of the flannel
Don't use a wash rag when you take a shower. If you have a seizure it could clog the plug hole, causing you to drown.
Shower safe
A shower is safer to use than a bath since there is less risk of drowning, fewer edges to fall against and it is easier to get in and out of. A level-access shower offers the least risk.
No soap tray
Ensure there is not a soap tray or other small ledges sticking out in the shower area.
Shower curtains
Shower curtains are less harmful to fall against and easier for other people to access if the person you are supporting has a seizure.
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