It's a well-known fact that most accidents happen in the
home, and everyone - whether you have epilepsy or not - needs to take a little
extra care to avoid unnecessary injury. The following tips expand on basic
domestic safety measures to help make your environment as safe as possible
should you have a seizure.
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In general
Don't keep
internal house doors locked.
Fit room doors so that they open
outwards. If you have a seizure inside the room and fall against the door, it
can be easily opened from outside.
Put down thick carpeting (including
on the bathroom floor) to cushion against falls.
Choose padded
furniture with rounded corners.
Don't smoke or light fires or candles
when you're alone. Use fireplace screens while a fire is
burning.
Avoid heaters that can tip over or that have an exposed
heating element.
Use an iron with an automatic shut-off switch.
Choose low chairs, or with arms to prevent falls; and a low, wide
bed.
Have emergency numbers written up next to the
phone.
Install safety glass in windows and doors.
In the kitchen and diningroom
Consider
using a microwave oven. It's safer than a conventional stove that uses
electrical elements or gas.
If you use a conventional stove, use the
back plates or burners, and turn saucepan handles back and inwards.
Avoid carrying hot food containers. Try to arrange it so that your
cooking and dining areas are near each other. Use a tea trolley instead of
carrying hot food or drinks from one room to another. · Use plastic
rather than glass and ceramic food containers to prevent cuts, and cups with
lids to prevent burns.
Wear long oven gloves when removing items from
a hot oven.
Wear rubber gloves when handling knives or washing
breakable dishes and glassware.
In the bathroom
Have your daily bath or shower at and for a set time, to
coincide with times other household members are at home. Tell someone you are
about to bath or shower.
Showers are generally safer than baths.
Don't use a shower with a door that seals: rather use a shower
curtain or a door that has a gap at its base.
Don't run the taps while
you're in the bath, and keep the water level low.
Check that the
outflow pipes from the bath and shower drain properly.
Consider using
a shower or bath seat.
Avoid using electrical appliances near water.
In the garden and doing
DIY
Choose grass surfaces over paved.
Use power
tools and motor-driven equipment that have a "dead man's" handle - the power is
cut off if your hand releases its grip.
Avoid climbing, and then only
as high as you can safely fall. If you must climb, use a safety harness and wear
protective head-gear.
Keep a cover on the swimming pool when this is
not in use; clean the pool when someone else is present.
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