Instructions and Procedures
Introduction:
Febrile seizures are convulsions brought on by a rapid spike in body temperature that occur in infants or small children.
Intended Audience:
Families with small children or couples wanting to have children in the future
Prior Knowledge/Skills needed:
None
Brief overall description of the procedure:
To inform parents on proper way of handling a child during a seizure while seeking professional medical attention
Materials/Equipment:
Hands, blankets/pillow, telephone, Tylenol or motrin
Warnings, Cautions, Dangers:
Choking from saliva foaming from mouth, a blocked airway from the tongue rolling back in throat, bruising of body limbs from convulsing of body limbs hitting hard objects such as a side of a crib, lack of oxygen from a prolonged seizure could cause severe brain damage.
List of Major Steps:
1. Check to make sure airway is not blocked.
2. Gently turn child’s head to the side to prevent choking on saliva
3. Time seizure
4. Place pillows or blankets between arms and legs if they are hitting against a hard object such as a side of a crib
5. Call 911
6. After seizure take temperature
7. Administer Tylenol or motrin
8. Take child to emergency room
Required Steps
1. Check to make sure airway is not blocked.
Materials: Hands
Gently open child’s mouth to check if tongue is rolled back in throat. If so, take a pencil, and depress tongue down and leave remaining until seizure is complete
2. Gently tilt child’s head to the side to allow the foaming saliva to run out the side of the mouth to prevent choking.
Materials needed: Hands
Time the seizure with a watch. This is important information to give the medical team in determining if any tests or procedures need to be performed in evaluating the seizure.
Place blankets or pillows around body limbs to keep from injuring during seizure.
Using a telephone call 911 for medical assistance
After the child has regained consciousness, using a measured dispenser such as a syringe give the child Tylenol or motrin per instructions on bottle to reduce their body temperature to prevent another seizure.
Once paramedics have arrived at your home, you can either allow them to take you to the emergency room or you can drive your child to the closest medical facility.
Conclusion
Be sure to follow up with your pediatrician and let them know your child has had a febrile seizure .
