10/02/2026
International Epilepsy Day
The Epilepsy Pledge
The epilepsy pledge invites individuals, families, workplaces, school and organisations to commit to one concrete action during 2026 that strengthens awareness, safety, inclusion, and community understanding of epilepsy. It builds on the stories and learning from last year’s campaign.
The pledge can be personal or community-focused, small or wide-reaching. What matters is that is addresses a real need, is achievable, and completed during 2026. Every action contributes to a larger movement for understanding, safety and inclusion.
To take the pledge head to: https://internationalepilepsyday.org/epilepsy-pledge/
Epileptic Seizure Symptoms to look out for:
• body becoming stiff or floppy,
• suddenly falling to the floor,
• jerking or twitching movements in your body,
• peeing unintentionally,
• losing awareness of surroundings,
• unusual feelings or sensations - strange smells, numbness, or tingling, changes in vision, or suddenly feeling scared,
• unusual behaviour - fidgeting, walking, lack of awareness.
What to do if someone has a seizure:
• Stay calm,
• only move them if they’re in danger,
• cushion their head if they’re on the ground,
• loosen any tight clothes from around their neck,
• turn them onto their side once the seizure has stopped,
• stay with them and talk to them calmly until they recover,
• note the time the seizure starts and finishes.
If the person is in a wheelchair, put the brakes on and leave any seatbelts or harness’ on. Support them gently and cushion their head, but do not try to move them.
Do not put anything in their mouths!!
When to call an ambulance:
• It’s the first time someone has had a seizure,
• the seizure lasts longer than is usual for them,
• the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or if you don’t know how long the individuals seizures normally last,
• the person doesn’t regain full consciousness, or has several seizures without regaining consciousness,
• the person is seriously injured during the seizure,
• the person has difficulty breathing after the seizure.
