The Roach family wants to educate the community on how to respond to an epileptic seizure. So, they’re hosting a Seizure First Aid training day on March 26.
This marks the second year hosting the event. Ashley Roach said they hope to offer the training annually so more families know how to properly respond to a seizure.
In 2022, the family started their advocacy throughout the community shortly after their son suffered his first stroke.
“You never know when that first seizure is going to hit; we didn’t expect it,” Roach said. “… I’ve heard where people want to help somebody having a seizure, but they’re afraid that they’re going to hurt that person or make it worse, and I want to take that fear away.”
Roach said they are partnering with the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana, as one of the foundation’s instructors will lead the class.
In addition, Roach said they will provide handouts and other information to all who attend. They will also have door prizes.
She said she plans to continue the program every Purple Day — a worldwide epilepsy awareness day — to raise the knowledge of seizure response.
“One of our goals was to spread epilepsy awareness. So this is something that we try to do, and I’m going to keep trying to do it on a Purple Day every year to help that,” she said.
Roach said the event is free to the public, and they encourage all guests to wear purple. The training will take place at Simply Therapy Gym (1512 Frederica Street) at 6 p.m. on March 26.
