Purple Day 2024: Get to know epilepsy 

Author: Rebecca Lock, PR & media officer at Epilepsy Action

79 new people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day in the UK. That is three people every hour, and one every 18 minutes. In a week, more than 500 new people will be diagnosed on average. Every month, that’s around 2,500 people. 

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the UK. It can affect anyone, regardless of their background. In fact, nearly one in 100 people in the UK, around 630,000, have epilepsy. Despite this, the condition is still surrounded by a lack of understanding, and too often, stigma. 

Purple Day (26 March) is the global awareness day for epilepsy and national charity Epilepsy Action is asking the world to embrace the purple and take action to learn about epilepsy. 

What can local councils do to recognise Purple Day this year?

Encourage learning about epilepsy

Greater awareness about epilepsy helps to reduce stigma and in turn helps people with epilepsy to feel safer and more confident.  

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the brain, causing repeated seizures. It affects people from all walks of life and there are many different kinds of epilepsy and seizure types.

You can learn more about what epilepsy is here: What is epilepsy? - Epilepsy Action.

So many aspects of life can be impacted by an epilepsy diagnosis, such as independence, work opportunities and mental wellbeing. Listening to the real stories of people affected by epilepsy, how it has impacted them and how they have learned to manage the condition, is an important step to better understanding epilepsy. 

You can read Epilepsy Stories here: Epilepsy Stories Archive - Epilepsy Action.

Get to know the steps of basic seizure first aid 

A recent survey of the general public found that 36% of people said they wouldn’t know what to do if someone was having a seizure in front of them. And people with epilepsy aren’t confident strangers would stop and help them if they had a seizure, with over two fifths (43%) believing this. 

But helping someone during a seizure doesn’t have to be scary. All you have to do is CARE. 

C – Comfort

Cushion their head with something soft to protect them from injury

A – Action

Start to time the seizure, and clear the area of anything that might be harmful. You could also check if the person has a medical ID or bracelet with more information on how to help

R – Reassure

After the seizure stops, put the person in the recovery position and reassure them

E – Emergency

Call 999 if the person:

- Has a seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes

- Is not regaining consciousness

- Goes straight into another seizure 

- Has trouble breathing after the seizure stops

- Has never had a seizure before

You can find out more here: www.epilepsy.org.uk/care.

Fundraise to make a difference for people with epilepsy

There are lots of ways to get involved and Epilepsy Action is here to help you every step of the way. Sign up for your free virtual fundraising pack  full of ideas, tips and inspiration to turn your workplace purple: www.epilepsy.org.uk/purple.

To find out more, look out for Epilepsy Action on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok, or visit www.epilepsy.org.uk.  

The following blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Association of Local Councils. Any links to external sources included in this blog post are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement or approval of those websites' content, products, services, or policies. Therefore, readers should use discretion and judgment when applying the information to their circumstances. Finally, this blog post may be updated or revised without notice.