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Student Peer-Awareness Toolkit

Run a Seizure Smart day, club meeting, or class talk at your own school. EDAN is student-led, and students reach other students better than any adult can. This free toolkit shows you how to teach your peers seizure first aid and bust the myths, in about 20 minutes.

Why this matters

A student having a seizure at school is most likely to be near classmates first. Peers who know the simple "Stay, Safe, Side" response, and who don't panic or laugh, make school safer and kinder for students with epilepsy.

Pick a format

  • Class talk (15 to 20 min): ask a teacher for a slot in health, advisory, or homeroom.
  • Club or advisory: present at an existing club, or start a "Seizure Smart" club.
  • Awareness day: a lunchroom table, posters, and a short demo; purple is the epilepsy color.
  • Morning announcement + posters: the lowest-effort option.

Run it in 5 steps

  1. Get the okay. Ask a teacher, the school nurse, or an administrator. The nurse is a great ally.
  2. Learn it yourself first. Read Seizure First Aid and try the simulator and the Is This a Seizure? quiz.
  3. Teach the basics: what a seizure is and that they're common; that many seizures don't look like convulsions; and the response, Stay (and time it), Safe (don't restrain, nothing in the mouth), Side; call 911 if it lasts over 5 minutes, repeats, happens in water, or there's injury.
  4. Bust the myths (see below). This is the part that changes how classmates treat each other.
  5. Share where to learn more: point people to free Epilepsy Foundation training and to this site.

Myths vs facts (use these)

  • Myth: Put something in their mouth so they don't swallow their tongue. Fact: Never, you can't swallow your tongue, and objects cause injury. Nothing in the mouth.
  • Myth: Hold them down to stop the shaking. Fact: Never restrain; just clear the area and cushion the head.
  • Myth: A seizure is always dramatic shaking. Fact: Many are brief staring, confusion, or repeated movements, easy to miss.
  • Myth: Epilepsy is rare/contagious/a sign of low intelligence. Fact: About 1 in 100 people have it, it is not contagious, and it has nothing to do with intelligence.
  • Myth: You should always call an ambulance. Fact: Call 911 for the specific reasons above; many seizures stop on their own and the person just needs calm support.

Get the toolkit

A printable version with a ready talk script, the myths/facts handout, and a poster:

Download the Peer-Awareness Toolkit (PDF)

Tell us about it

Ran an event? We would love to hear how it went (and add your school to our map of student-led efforts). Email us or reach out on LinkedIn.

Free and student-led, from the Epilepsy Data & Advocacy Network (EDAN). Informational only; not medical advice.