Epilepic Death

[stormdancer]

Hi
Can anyone answer the following please:

If a person with epilepsy has a fit whilst in the bath and has 'Aspiration of gastric contents'. Is it always fatal or is it preventable if someone is on hand to help?

Thank you
Stormdancer

[brainpain]

im sorry to hear about your son, but glad you shared your story. i am a 35yr old woman an i have never been told not to take a bath.i have never even gave it a thought.i have grandmal seizures,i have some warning before to. thanks so much for your story, your son josh may have saved my life to. thanks so much,brainpain

[WREBAC]

Who would ever think that a 15 year old would drown in a bathtub from having an epileptic seizure. A 15 year old!  I was in a room nearby and all of a sudden got the feeling that things were not right.  I went in the bathroom and there was my son under the water.  My daughter and I pulled him out.  I performed CPR while she called 911.  He had a weak heartbeat but never regained cosciousness .  He died several hours later at the hospital.  Josh was a loving kind person and would have done anything to help another person.  We knew that  he would want to donate his organs to others.  Although not a lot could be donated because of being under the water, we were able to donate.  Now a part of Josh lives on.  An autopsy was done and he had an epileptic seizure and drown.  In the bathtub at age 15.
Several years later I have been diagnosed with epilepsy and have gone thru the brain surgery. I have been nearly seizure free since my surgery.
I always heard my son have a seizure as he was having them or he came to me first while in the aura and said "Mom, I'm gonna have a seizure".  

[RobinN]

Those are certainly two reasons where Epilepsy can cause death.
One is being in a bath, unattended, and have a seizure and drown.
Two is to aspirate (throw up) and have it get into the lungs.
If someone is on hand to help, then 911 can be called, but they have to be know what to do in this situation. Many do not know what to do when a seizure occurs. Some actually strap the person to a board, and if they happen to vomit, there is no way to turn the head to the side at that point. They should always be turned on their side when seizing.
I let my daughter take a bath occasionally, but I am always on the other side of the door chatting with her.
This is very important.
You should also not allow swimming unless there is someone with lifesaving skills near.

[WREBAC]

My son at the age of 15 drown while having an epileptic grand mal seizure.  He was never told he could not take a bath.  He always had the aura ahead of time before the actual seizure.

[dudgeon]

I am not sure, but I know me and my son both have seizures and we were both told many times that we are not allowed to take baths, showers only for us. I hope you get an answer that helps.