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Learn how to help those with epilepsy

Did you know that most people living in America do not know what to do if they see someone having a seizure? Yet more than 3 million Americans live with epilepsy — a condition that results in seizures of various types.

All Americans deserve to have clear, concise information about epilepsy and seizures at their fingertips and right now Congress is offering a great opportunity to help many people, including school personnel, first responders, employers and community workers better understand epilepsy and how to help when someone has a seizure.

With support from the Epilepsy Foundation, Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, Ed Perlmutter and Dan Benishek have introduced a bipartisan, no-money-needed resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 298), that would coordinate efforts within our government to get more information about epilepsy and what to do when someone has a seizure into the hands of people nationwide who live with, work with, teach or provide services to people with epilepsy.

While epilepsy is controlled by medications for many people, for others it can be very serious and could even lead to death. That is why it is critical to support HR 298, which will help everyone to better understand epilepsy and know how to help. All members of the U.S. House of Representatives should see supporting this resolution as an important yet easy way to support their constituents with epilepsy living in their district. I work constantly to educate people in my community about epilepsy and seizures. Representatives, won’t you help us, too?

In preparation for November’s upcoming National Epilepsy Awareness Month and on behalf of all people living with epilepsy here in our great state and across America, I encourage everyone to become Seizure Smart and urge each member of our Congressional delegation to become a co-sponsor of HR 298.

Kim Babiarz

Crystal Lake