< Arkansas Children's Blog

Top Four Places to Never Leave Your Child Alone with Epilepsy

Published date: July 13, 2018

If your child has been diagnosed with Epilepsy, he/she can still lead a normal life. Most children with seizures do not usually have any physical limitations or activity restrictions. However, there is a chance that your child could lose consciousness during a seizure, so there are certain circumstances and activities that should be avoided or closely monitored.

Your child’s life could be at risk if he/she were to lose consciousness during certain activities.

  • Swimming/Taking a Bath: Your child should always be closely monitored while in the water. Encourage your child to take showers instead of sitting in a tub of water. Never leave your child alone in the tub or a swimming pool of any kind.
  • Fire:  Your child should always be closely monitored around campfires, fireplaces, or hot ovens/stoves.
  • Heights:  Your child should always be closely monitored when activity includes heights – monkey bars, trees, etc.
  • Driving:  Arkansas law requires an individual to be seizure-free for one year before driving.

Your child may have increased seizures when he/she is sick, running a fever, sleep-deprived, or under stress. It is also very important that your child not miss his/her medication because this can result in increased seizures.

1 in 6 children suffers from some kind of neurological disorder. The Neuroscience Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital has a team of more than 200 health care professionals who work together to provide comprehensive neurological care to children all over the country.