Epilepsy safety

Understanding risks is vital for staying safe

Epilepsy safety

Epilepsy is not always obvious, but it impacts our classrooms, workplaces and communities

  • One in 20 people will experience a seizure in their lifetime
  • There are over 100,000 emergency visits a year in the UK because of epilepsy
  • At least 21 people die from an epilepsy death each week with most deaths happening at home
  • The latest population research (part funded by SUDEP Action) between 2004 and 2014 showed deaths in people with epilepsy rising by 69%
  • It’s been known for two decades that at least four out of 10 deaths could be avoided

Today, epilepsy is a priority for the World Health Organisation. The UK Epilepsy Research Priorities Partnership has also made epilepsy mortality the number one priority for research. Taking simple actions can help people with epilepsy to live much safer.

Epilepsy safety

Staying safe means having up-to-date information

Epilepsy is a complex condition which can be worrying and difficult to understand. Staying safe means having key up-to-date information to make the best decisions possible.  

Our information is supported by the latest research on epilepsy risks, epilepsy deaths and SUDEP – which also underpins our safety tools, the SUDEP & Seizure Safety Checklist and our EpSMon app.  

 

Also see

 

Why use EpSMon? What users and experts say

More than 1,700 clinicians regularly use our Checklist

Learn about Epilepsy lifestyle and Risk

For one-to-one support after an epilepsy death contact our support team today

We provide the only support line for people bereaved by an epilepsy death and offer access to qualified counselling. Our dedicated support team has a special interest in, and understanding of, sudden and traumatic death.

Call our support team

If you are in the UK or Ireland we can talk with you by email or telephone. Our support team will do its best to give you what you need.

If you are outside the UK we will try and put you in touch with services available in your country.

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SUDEP stands for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.