Epilepsy Ontario :: Summer Fun

Summer Time and the Livin' is … well, easier.
Tanis Rideout

We all start to feel a little carefree in the summer, regardless of age, long evenings on back porches, lazy days at the cottage, sunning and boating – it brings out the youth in all of us, along with freckles and tan lines, and we long to play and stay up well past out bed times. But as much as we want to, we can't let all our responsibilities go out the window. The grass still needs to be cut, dinners made and eaten, and medication taken. Summer can actually bring on a whole new set of concerns for someone living with epilepsy. So we've put together a few handy reminders for you to keep your summer safe and carefree.

Medication:

It is important to store your medication appropriately. All medications should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. This becomes even more difficult during the summer, when the humidity in Ontario can just about make you melt, but try and find somewhere that meets these requirements, a shelf in the closet, or a kitchen cupboard away from the stove or kettle.
During the summer, when schedules get a little chaotic with long weekends, and maybe trips away, it is important to make sure you take your medication as prescribed. You might want to consider a waterproof watch with an alarm that you can keep on at all times. If you are traveling, particularly out of the country, you should keep your medication in its original containers, or at the very least, keep the label from the containers on the new one, as well as a photocopy of your prescription. A lot of countries don't take kindly to unmarked medications.
Make sure you have enough. If you will be traveling abroad, take at least an extra week's worth of medication with you in case of emergencies. And remember the long weekends, and make sure to have your prescriptions filled accordingly.

Recreation:

Never swim or boat alone, always swim or boat with an experienced swimmer who is informed of your seizure disorder. Always wear a personal flotation device when boating. Life Jackets – Adapted, makes life jackets specifically designed to aid people with disabilities, you can take a look at http://www.pfd-a.com
Head injury is a major risk for people with epilepsy, and in summer as we are more active it becomes more risky – always wear a helmet when you bike, roller-blade, climb trees or play contact sports.
If flashing lights trigger your seizures, be aware of naturally occurring versions of this – such as sunlight through leaves, light flickering off water, and campfires. During the day wear polarized sunglasses to help counteract some of the effects.
Stay hydrated and stay cool. Dehydration can lead to a lot of summer ills, like headaches, heatstroke etc. Always keep a bottle of water with you, and try to schedule activities for the cooler parts of the day like morning and evening.
Consider a Medic-Alert bracelet, or something similar that can inform people of your seizures if you are unable to speak for yourself.

Most importantly have a safe, fun summer. Contact your local epilepsy chapter to see if they have any special events to participate in during the summer, like day trips, golf tournaments or pot-luck bar-b-q's.!