For those of you that don’t know, my son Noah has been dramatically effected by epilepsy. But, our lives are not nearly the only ones impacted. According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide. There are 3.4 million people in the U.S. living with active epilepsy. That number is more than Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy combined. However, epilepsy only receives one-tenth of the funding that those other neurological disorders do. One in 10 people will have a seizure during their lifetime, and one in 26 will be diagnosed with epilepsy. So, the importance of creating awareness this month is obvious. Remaining calm and knowing seizure first aid is extremely important. Use Stay. Safe. Side. Simple to help you easily remember.

• Stay with the person having a seizure.
• Make sure they are Safe.
• If they convulse, turn them on their Side.
• Simple. Never put anything in their mouths, time the seizure, and if it lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911.

Every year technological advancements are made that can drastically improve someone’s independence and their life. During this month is a great time to contribute to help this fight toward a world free from epilepsy and from the anxieties of not knowing if or when a seizure will strike. So, we think this is a cause within our community that should not be overlooked.