Teachers & Trainers
Be Prepared. Keep Students Safe.
About one percent of students have epilepsy. In a school of 1,000 students, that means there are about 10 young people who may have a seizure at any time, without warning. Will you be prepared? Will you recognize it when a seizure is occurring? Will you know what to do? Will the students in your school know how to help, or will they flip out? Will you know how to be supportive of the student who has had the seizure so you can set an example for the class?
School administrators, teachers, students and volunteers need to know about epilepsy, how to recognize a seizure, what to do when a seizure occurs and — most importantly — what NOT to do.
Take Charge Training Materials
Below is a list of all the Seizures and You: Take Charge of the Facts Toolkit materials you will receive.
- Take Charge Facilitator’s Guide (PDF)
- Take Charge PowerPoint (PowerPoint)
- Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Matching Worksheet (PDF)
- Matching Worksheet Answer Key (PDF)
- Student Quiz (PDF)
- Student Quiz Answer Key (PDF)
After registering on-line, you will be directed to a downloadable version where you may print or save the toolkit. »Register Online.
Why teach about epilepsy?
A national survey shows there is widespread lack of knowledge about epilepsy among teens. More than half thought it might be contagious and nearly 70 percent thought that epilepsy is or might be a mental illness. More than three quarters of teens said they would not know what to do if someone had a seizure. A significant percentage said they would not date a person with epilepsy. This lack of understanding often results in teens with epilepsy feeling socially isolated and pressured to keep their seizures a secret.
Bring the Take Charge program to your school
To learn more about bringing this program to your school, contact your local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate. »Locate the Epilepsy Foundation affiliate nearest you.
Stories from Teacher & Trainers:
This morning, when I arrived at school, there was a student that wanted to speak to me in private. She had seen the presentation you did in my room and said while she was watching the presentation, she was thinking to herself this is dumb and it will never happen to me or my family. That all changed when her little brother, who is two, suffered a seizure. She said she was scared, but they did get help. She thanked me for having you come teach the Take Charge program to the class. And she finally realizes that everything I have tried to teach some day will matter. She hugged me and told me "thank you!" That was a priceless moment and I just had to share it with you!
High School Teacher
San Antonio, TX
I taught the Take Charge program earlier this week and the very next day, an 8th grade girl had a tonic-clonic seizure. The teacher called me just to say that without the training the day before, there would have been an entirely different outcome. The student’s peers responded appropriately, the girl was safe (but embarrassed), and the students let her know she didn't need to be.
Take Charge Trainer
Wisconsin
A student from the training last week saw someone have a seizure this weekend at a family function. These are his words: “I went to a party and this lady started to have a seizure. I told my Grandma what to do, and she told (my uncle)--the person that was treating her-- what to do. She got better!” He did state that the other adults did not want to listen to him, but his mom explained to the family that he learned it in school!
Take Charge Trainer
California
Have Questions?
Do you have questions about working with students with epilepsy in your classroom? Want to talk to other teachers and share your thoughts? Join us here in our e-communities and talk about it.
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