Halloween is coming up soon and we are all excited to put on costumes and go trick-or-treating or attend Halloween parties. Here are some Halloween safety recommendations that our staff with epilepsy use:
- Take Your Medication: Trick-or-treating or Halloween parties can be chaotic at times, which could lead to forgetting to take epilepsy medications. However, as missed medication is one of the most common seizure triggers, it is important to remember to take medication on time and at the correct dosage as prescribed by the health care provider. You can click here for more information on medications and epilepsy.
- Get Enough Sleep: The fun and excitement that Halloween brings may result in not getting enough sleep or having poor sleep. However, as sleep deprivation is one of the most common seizure triggers, it is very important to try not to deter too much from your regular sleep routine, especially since sleep deprivation is one of the most common seizure triggers. You can click here for more information on sleep and epilepsy.
- Avoid Triggers for your Seizures: Halloween may be full of potential seizure triggers. Some seizure triggers can include missed medication; sleep deprivation; flashing lights; stress; illness or fever; hormonal changes; drug interactions; alcohol and/or drug use; hyperventilation; dehydration; overheating; or low blood sugar. You can click here for more information on seizure triggers. If you have known triggers for your seizures, it is important for you to try and avoid these. For example, if you are one of the 3-5% of people living with epilepsy who has photosensitive epilepsy and have seizures that are triggered by flashing, flickering, or strobe lights, try to avoid Halloween attractions that use them, such as haunted houses. You can click here for more information on photosensitive epilepsy. Also, try and avoid alcohol and/or drug use as they have been known to exacerbate seizures. You can click here for more information on epilepsy and alcohol and drugs.
- Employ the Buddy System: Whether you are trick-or-treating or attending a Halloween party, be sure to employ the buddy system and go out with someone who is aware that you have epilepsy and knows what to do if you have a seizure. You can click here for more information on seizure first aid to provide to your buddy.
- Reduce Stress: Sometimes, Halloween can be stressful, which is known to exacerbate seizures. Prevent stress by keeping to local areas and well-known environments and avoiding unfamiliar places. You can click here for more information on epilepsy and stress.
- Medical Identification: It can be helpful to wear a medical identification bracelet that way the others around you will be aware that you have epilepsy. You can click here for more information on medical identification and epilepsy.
- Seizure Detection Device: You may choose to use a seizure detection device, which is a device that can assist in detecting when a seizure takes place. Some seizure detection devices can even notify a caregiver that a seizure is occurring/has occurred so that they will be made aware should a seizure occur. You can click here for more information on safety devices and epilepsy.
- Dietary Therapy: People living with epilepsy that are using dietary therapy like the Ketogenic Diet as a treatment option for their epilepsy unfortunately would not be able to partake in eating candy from trick-or-treating or at a Halloween party. However, that doesn’t mean that they have to miss out. For trick-or-treating, they can still go but, at the end of the night, they can “trade in” their candy with their parents for keto-friendly treats or non-food items like games of toys. For Halloween parties, they can still attend but make and bring their own keto-friendly treats or only eat the food items that they are able to.
Is there anything else that you do that you would like to add to this list? Let us know!
Also, if you are looking for a fun Halloween activity to do this year, you can try entering our BCES Pumpkin Contest! All you have to do is carve an epilepsy-related pumpkin or paint a pumpkin purple. Then take a photo of your creation and email it to sonia@bcepilepsy.com. After, that all entries will be placed in a draw for a chance to win a $25 gift card. We can’t wait to see your amazing photos! Entries will be accepted until Thursday October 31st at 11:59 PM PST.
We hope that our tips help everyone to have a fun, enjoyable and safe Halloween this year!