Epilepsy and Drowning

Persons with epilepsy have a 15 to 19 times higher risk of drowning compared to the general population according to a study published in the August issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. 

The risk was highest for people with epilepsy and a learning disability, those in institutional care and those who have had brain surgery but who were not all free of seizures.

A good lesson to learn from this study is that people with active epilepsy should shower instead of bathe, take medication regularly to control seizures and should have direct supervision when swimming.