Do you know what to do when someone has a seizure? Let’s rephrase: Do you know what to do when someone has a seizure while falling at 200 km/h? It may sound farfetched, but this is exactly what Sheldon McFarlane, skydiving instructor had to deal with in November last year.
A YouTube clip, that started trending in the last few days, shows Christopher Jones jumping from the plane doing skydiving, when he starts having a seizure mid-air.
What caused the seizure?
There are a number of causes for seizures. The Daily Mail mentions that Christopher “has epilepsy, but he hadn’t had a fit for four years”. Dr Albert Viljoen, from the Hello Doctor team, mentions that you can see the typical signs of a Grand-Mal seizure, in the video-footage:
“When looking at the Youtube clip, you’ll notice a few interesting features between 1:33 and 1:36 :
- both arms are pulled inwards
- the fists are clenched tightly
- his head is pulled backward.
These are typical features of a Grand-Mal Seizure. It is quite possible that his body’s high stress-response with the rush of the jump, triggered his seizure.”
Are there other triggers for epilepsy?
There are quite a number of triggers that can cause a seizure, if you have epilepsy. Generally, patients are advised to avoid:
- Alcohol
- Flashing lights
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
What do I do if someone has an epileptic fit?
If you’re on solid ground, and you notice someone having abnormal body movements, the first step is to BE CALM.
- Roll the person into the recovery position (on the side).
- Lie them on their side in case they vomit
- Keep them away from sharp edges to stop them from hurting themselves, and put something soft under their head.
- Remember, if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes, or if more than one seizure occurs without the person regaining consciousness, contact emergency medical services on — 10177 — immediately.
- Stay with the person until help arrives
We also have a very helpful infographic here, that you can stick up at your offices, if there are colleagues who suffer from epilepsy.
This video is also an important reminder to ALWAYS be honest about all your medical conditions, whenever you take part in risky sports. If the instructor isn’t aware of it, you may not be as fortunate as Christopher was.