SEIZURE EFFECTS Dependent upon the Seizures may manifest in different ways. In some instances, personalised assessment people nearby may not even realise that the member of staff Member of staff findings, consider providing is having a seizure. In other instances, the effects may be with epilepsy information, instruction & obvious and distressing. 1B training to staff & any other Persons support as might be needed. Some staff members may be stressed by others suffering working in the seizures or the threat that they might suffer a seizure. Some vicinity Information and support can be staff members may have difficulty coping with this. This may accessed via the HR web site. be detrimental to the everyone. Difficulties arising from this may increase seizure risks. SEIZURE THRESHOLDS & TRIGGERS Most people with epilepsy have a - the ‘seizure threshold’ point at which the to seizures is brain’s natural resistance passed, triggering a seizure. People with a low threshold have frequent seizures, whereas people with a high threshold Manager to make further enquires. experience less frequent seizures and triggers will have less Most of the common Possible avenues for investigation are: effect on them. Many people with epilepsy find certain triggers are outside the circumstances or substances can trigger a seizure. Common control of the University (eg Are there any specific triggers are: alcohol consumption, circumstances or substances that Stress; illegal drugs, etc). trigger your seizures? Member of staff 2 Lack of sleep; with epilepsy Is there any part of your workplace Alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking and University to make or job that exposes you to these during a hangover; reasonable adjustments to triggers? workplace and job to Illegal drugs and some pharmaceuticals, especially What adjustments need to be stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, etc) and opiates remove or reduce known made to the workplace to eliminate (heroin, methadone, codeine, etc); triggers within its control. or control triggers? Illness or health conditions that cause a fever; and Flashing or flickering lights (photo-epilepsy). Some women may be more prone to seizures just around the time of their period. Common epilepsy triggers that are within the control of the University are considered below.
1B SEIZURE EFFECTS Seizures may manifest in different ways. In some instances, people nearby may not even realise that the member of staff is having a seizure. In other instances, the effects may be obvious and distressing. Some staff members may be stressed by others suffering seizures or the threat that they might suffer a seizure. Some staff members may have difficulty coping with this. This may be detrimental to the everyone. Difficulties arising from this may increase seizure risks. Member of staff with epilepsy Persons working in the vicinity Dependent upon the personalised assessment findings, consider providing information, instruction & training to staff & any other support as might be needed. Information and support can be accessed via the HR web site. 2 SEIZURE THRESHOLDS & TRIGGERS Most people with epilepsy have a ‘seizure threshold’ - the point at which the brain’s natural resistance to seizures is passed, triggering a seizure. People with a low threshold have frequent seizures, whereas people with a high threshold experience less frequent seizures and triggers will have less effect on them. Many people with epilepsy find certain circumstances or substances can trigger a seizure. Common triggers are: Stress; Lack of sleep; Alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking and during a hangover; Illegal drugs and some pharmaceuticals, especially stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, etc) and opiates (heroin, methadone, codeine, etc); Illness or health conditions that cause a fever; and Flashing or flickering lights (photo-epilepsy). Some women may be more prone to seizures just around the time of their period. Common epilepsy triggers that are within the control of the University are considered below. Member of staff with epilepsy Most of the common triggers are outside the control of the University (eg alcohol consumption, illegal drugs, etc). University to make reasonable adjustments to workplace and job to remove or reduce known triggers within its control. Manager to make further enquires. Possible avenues for investigation are: Are there any specific circumstances or substances that trigger your seizures? Is there any part of your workplace or job that exposes you to these triggers? What adjustments need to be made to the workplace to eliminate or control triggers?