Epilepsy management plans for people with developmental disability

A written protocol for the management of seizures should be available to parents and carers of people with developmental disability who have experienced a seizure within the last 2 years. It should include:

• a seizure chart that describes each seizure type the person experiences—particularly important for group home residents, because observers will be multiple and changing
• instructions on when to call an ambulance—this will generally be when a seizure has been in progress for more than 5 minutes or when there is more than one seizure without full recovery between seizures
• instructions on when to treat repetitive or habitually prolonged seizures, if treatment has been prescribed
• any specific advice on managing the person during or after a seizure that is not covered by generic first aid for seizures
• modifications to the person’s activities that are necessary to avoid unacceptable risk.

If a seizure occurs in a person who has been seizure-free for more than 2 years, the person should be taken to hospital immediately unless there is a rapid and complete recovery.