In an effort to learn more about how to handle such cases should they occur, the DeWitt Police Department recently hosted an in-service training for its officers as well as for personnel from the East Syracuse and Baldwinsville police departments, DeWitt and Liverpool fire departments, and NAVAC. The multiple educational sessions offered open dialogue between leaders of both the Epilepsy Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Both organizations have gone to great lengths to create a training curriculum that is specifically for law enforcement,” said DeWitt Police Chief Eugene Conway. “That demonstrated to me their commitment about how much they want law enforcement to have knowledge of and be aware of people who are afflicted. We in turn have a commitment to invite and welcome training such as this. It makes us understand better the makeup of the community that we service.”
Learning about Epilepsy
The presentation on Epilepsy focused on dispelling myths and misinformation, identifying seizures and considering the response necessary for non-convulsive seizures.
“[Non-convulsive seizures] can be easily mistaken for other conditions such as mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse,” said Debra Lewis, community education and counseling coordinator, Epilepsy Foundation. “Our goal was to add one more tool to [a first responder’s] assessment toolbox to consider when they come upon someone who may be acting unusual.”
People with epilepsy are often unresponsive when having a seizure. Staring blankly, chewing, blinking eyes rapidly and wringing hands are all behaviors that can occur during a non-convulsive seizure event.
“It’s important to know they may be confused after the seizure ends,” Lewis said. “They can’t process information while they’re having one.”
People can help those who are having a seizure by remaining calm and looking for medical alert. If the victim is unconscious, turn him on his side to maintain his airway, cushion his head, remove glasses if necessary and remove anything that may be constricting around his neck, such as a tie, collar or scarf.
“Don’t restrain the person [and] don’t ever put anything in their mouth,” Lewis said. “Always call 911 if the person is injured, pregnant, the seizure lasts more than five minutes or the person has multiple seizures.”
Epilepsy is a very individualized condition, Lewis added, and seizures happen differently for everyone.
For more information about the Epilepsy Foundation, visit the local Epilepsy Foundation office at 1045 James St. in Syracuse; check out its Web site, epilepsy-uny.org; or call the local Epilepsy Foundation office at 477-9777. Additional information is available at epilepsyfoundation.org.
Learning about Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s, dementia and how the two affect a person’s cognitive abilities are stressed in training sessions geared toward police officers.
“We emphasize safety concerns and offer tips for the home, driving, wandering or other issues that a family and/or person with dementia may face,” said Michael Massurin, central regional director, Alzheimer’s Association. “We offer suggestions on how to safely approach someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.”
Discussion also centers around the MedicAlert + Safe Return Program, a nationwide program that helps address the issue of wandering. A new GPS program called Comfort Zone can also help with tracking and monitoring a patient’s location on a nationwide basis.
“If a person with Alzheimer’s needs medical care, those issues should be addressed as they would any other person,” Massurin said. “Call 911, your doctor or a hospital and follow their advice. The differences may be that the person with Alzheimer’s may become even more confused or upset. They may have limited ability to answer medical questions or describe what is wrong with them.”
The Alzheimer’s Association offers fact sheets on a variety of topics as well as free counseling for families and individuals dealing with this disease.
“Follow the same common sense approaches that you would use with anyone facing a medical crisis,” Massurin said. “But be aware that your best efforts may be met with resistance and confusion because the person with Alzheimer’s is not able to understand what is going on.”
To learn more about Alzheimer’s, call 472-4201 or visit the local chapter at 441 W. Kirkpatrick St. in Syracuse. You can also visit its Web site at alz.org.
