TV Medical Drama's Criticised in Results of New Research

During almost every First Aid course that I teach I hear someone say "I saw this on TV, so it must be true". Many really people believe that what they see on TV is real, even when what they see is on a soap opera! I've always responded by explaining that it's not real life and sometimes they (the tv producers/researchers) get it wrong. Now I have the evidence that proves it.

Researchers and authors of a study of the most popular medical TV dramas, Andrew Moeller and R. Mark Sadler, MD, from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada will be presenting their findings at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, this April.

Andrew Moeller says, "Television dramas are a potentially powerful method of educating the public about first aid and seizures. Our results, showing that television shows inaccurately showed seizure management half the time, are a call to action.... the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures."

The study centred around all episodes of the highest-rated US medical dramas: "Grey's Anatomy," "House, M.D.," and "Private Practice" and the last five seasons of "ER". Results show that in the 327 episodes, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Almost all first aid was carried out by "doctors" or "nurses".
The latest guidelines on seizure management were used to determine whether the seizure was handled appropriately.
The study highlights inappropriate practices in 25 cases, nearly 46 percent of the time. These bad practices include putting something in the person's mouth; holding the person down; trying to stop involuntary movements, occurred .
First aid management was shown appropriately in 17 seizures, or about 29 percent of the time. Appropriateness of first aid could not be determined in 15 incidents of seizures, or 25 percent.

So, overall, TV researchers need to focus on getting their information right.

So what should you do with someone who is having an epileptic seizure. Here's a quick guide:

1. Protect the casualty from danger, by removing any objects that might harm them. Protect their head by gently placing a cushion underneath it.
2. Do not restrain them in any way, simply allow the seizure to run its course.
3. When the seizure has stopped, carry out a full check of the Airway, Breathing and identify any other injuries.

Phone for medical aid only:

a. If, as a result of a fall, the casualty has sustained other injuries that require medical attention .
b. If the casualty has a second seizure (this is unusual)
c. If the casualty has never had a seizure before.

Never try to hold the casualty down, like you see on TV. And NEVER put anything in their mouth as they could choke on this.