Courses - Epilepsy Awareness and Buccal Midazolam Administration

Buccal Midazolam is an emergency rescue medication prescribed by a medical practitioner or nurse prescriber for the control of prolonged or continuous seizures which can be a lifesaving procedure. It is administered by a trained person to the buccal mucosa (between the gums and cheek) and is receiving wide spread acceptance due to its effectiveness in stopping seizures and its social acceptability.

There are agreed guidelines on training standards for the administration for buccal midazolam produced by the JEC and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) suggest use of buccal midazolam as an alternative to rectal diazepam according to the individual agreed protocol.

This course is for up to 12 people and is suitable for anyone who is authorised to administer buccal midazolam as prescribed by a medical practitioner or nurse prescriber and as specified in the individual care plan. The training facilitates safe, appropriate and dignified administration of the medication  providing all the necessary protocols and policies are in place and followed.  The course is delivered in line with the JEC Guidelines for this type of training.

The trainer will assess that learning is taking place during the course and supervise the simulated procedure during training. It is recommended that an employer organisation provides work based assessment and initial supervison in practice in addition to this training. It is further recommended that a refresher course be attended within 2 years of completion the the full training course, please contact us for details of refresher courses.

Example Programme (5 hours)

Epilepsy Awareness covering:-

• What is epilepsy?
• Causes of epilepsy
• Diagnosis
• Seizure Types (classification) – video/dvd
• Treatment with antiepileptic medication/side effects
• First aid for seizures
• Status Epilepticus
• Psychosocial and cultural issues
• Information and Support

The Administration of buccal midazolam covering:-

• What is Midazolam?
• Uses for epilepsy and other conditions
• Indications for use in epilepsy and benefits
• Appropriate doses
• Practical demonstration and DVD demonstration
• Possible difficulties and overdose identification/action
• What to do if ineffective

Health and Safety Issues covering:-

• Risk Assessment
• Individual Care Plans
• Organisational Protocols/local policies
• Duty of Care issues
• Legal responsibilities

At the end of the course the attendees will:-

• Have an understanding of epilepsy and its management
• Understand the psychosocial and cultural effects of epilepsy on individuals and families
• Understand the importance of care planning and risk assessment
  to ensure a safe environment and optimum treatment
• Be able to recognize seizures and take appropriate first aid actions
• Recognize the emergency situation and take appropriate actions
• Understand the theory and practice of administering buccal midazolam
• Have the knowledge to administer buccal midazolam safely in accordance with the individual care plan
• Receive a certificate of attendance valid for two years

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Photographs copyright Chas Breton Photography