I just read this and knew I had to share it: it is a myth that a person having a seizure can swallow their tongue, therefore you should never put anything in their mouth. If you put an object in someone's mouth who is having a seizure, they could bite it and the piece of stick or pencil could get lodged in their throat and block their ability to breath. Which is ultimately more dangerous than a seizure.

A recent survey conducted at University College London found that many myths surrounding epilepsy were prevalent in about 30 - 35 % of the population questioned, about 4,600 people.

Seizures are caused by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain, which interrupts normal communication between the brain and the body and epilepsy is diagnosed in people who have regularly recurring seizures. Experts recommend that if someone has a seizure, objects around them should be removed and their head needs to be cushioned if they are on the floor. Apart from that the seizure should be allowed to run its course. An ambulance should be called in the case of: first seizures, those lasting over five minutes, if the person is hurt or has several seizures.

I think it is important to shed light on old myths and share the facts - you never know when you might need them.