On-Demand 60 Minute Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training for School Personnel
Baton Rouge, LA: Epilepsy Alliance America (EAA), a nationwide network of community-based epilepsy organizations dedicated to providing direct care, education and support services to people living with epilepsy and the people who care for them, has launched a new training resource: On-Demand Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training for School Personnel. The training is available on demand 24/7 and takes less than one hour to complete. There is no fee to take the training.
The program was developed by the member organizations of Epilepsy Alliance America as well as representatives from New Jersey-based Rutgers School of Public Health. Epilepsy Alliance America and its member organizations prioritize training school personnel about seizure first aid. They have been the leading providers of seizure recognition and first aid training to school-aged youth, school nurses, school personnel, and first responders in each of their respective states. These programs help educate and raise awareness about epilepsy and seizure disorders while providing life-saving seizure first aid training.
“Epilepsy Alliance America is excited to announce our new Seizure First Aid on-demand training, available to all on an easy-to-use web-based platform. Our training provides the essential information school personnel and others need to respond to seizures and support children (and adults) with epilepsy. Our member organizations are experts at providing in-person training in their respective states and we designed this training to be the perfect complement. By having this 60-minute online training available, we have added another tool to our member’s toolboxes and made seizure first aid training more accessible,” said Sarah Korba, Epilepsy Alliance Board Member and Marketing Manager at member organization Epilepsy Alliance of West Central New York.
Participants take both a pre- and post-assessment to test their knowledge of seizures before and after the training. Participants receive a certificate upon completing the course. The training is housed on TRAIN, a national learning network that provides thousands of quality training opportunities to more than two million professionals who protect and improve the public’s health. The training is available via TRAIN and via the Epilepsy Alliance America website.
“We are delighted to partner with the team at Epilepsy Alliance America to develop this self-paced training and help deliver the important message of seizure first aid to school personnel,” said Colleen McKay Wharton, MA, MCHES, Rutgers School of Public Health. “Our hope is that it reaches school personnel across the country, so they can feel better-prepared to safely respond to a seizure event.”
According to the CDC, approximately 470,000 children in the United States have epilepsy. Students with epilepsy are more likely to miss school than the average student. Children required to leave school early due to a seizure risk falling behind in their lessons, creating challenges for parents and guardians who must stay home from work. In addition to limitations due to the risk of having seizures, stigmatization and fear can impact students’ mental health and keep them from embracing their education.
Learn more about Epilepsy Alliance America and its mission at www.epilepsyallianceamerica.org.
About the Epilepsy Alliance America
Epilepsy Alliance America is a nation-wide network of community-based epilepsy organizations who are dedicated to confronting the spectrum of challenges created by seizures through the promotion of independence and quality of life for people with epilepsy and their families. Epilepsy Alliance America was founded in 2018 by eight leading grassroots epilepsy organizations who have unified in their mission to provide direct support to people with epilepsy, and the people who care for them. Members of Epilepsy Alliance America have been collectively supporting people with epilepsy for decades through support services, information, education, advocacy, and public awareness. As a result, the Alliance provides real epilepsy help to approximately 1 million Americans living with Epilepsy. Epilepsy Alliance America is actively accepting new members who share in our mission of supporting people with epilepsy and their families. Learn more at https://www.epilepsyallianceamerica.org/membership/benefits/. For more information, visit the Epilepsy Alliance America website at www.epilepsyallianceamerica.org.
About Rutgers School of Public Heath, Center for Public Health Workforce Development
Rutgers School of Public Health, Center for Public Health Workforce Development provides quality trainings, both online and classroom-based, for adult learners in a range of disciplines, including public health practice, occupational safety and health, and developmental disabilities.
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