Today, March 26, is Purple day, also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day.

This day was initiated by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan, who wrote a letter sharing her experience of living with epilepsy. She encouraged people to see epilepsy not as a sentence, but as a condition to live with, just like any other.

Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide, with the causes remaining unknown in 50% of cases. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or social status.

In Armenia, many children with epilepsy receive care at the Department of Neurology and Epileptology of the "Arabkir" Medical Center. Our dedicated team of specialists strives to provide the best possible care, staying up-to-date with modern medical advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and surgery.

Here are some simple tips from Ani Gevorgyan, the head of the Neurology Department at the "Arabkir" Medical Center, on what to do and not to do if you witness someone having an epileptic seizure. 

• Stay calm and start timing the seizure.

• Remove any sharp and dangerous objects near the person.

• Turn them on their side.

• Place something soft under their head.

• Loosen any tight clothing around their neck and keep the airway clear.

• Call an ambulance.

• If they have food or fluid in their mouth, remove it after the seizure is over.

• Do not try to open their mouth.

• Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

• Do not give them food, water or pills.

Stay with the person until the seizure stops or medical help has arrived. Most seizures last for minutes.