Coach Kill’s seizure on the field: Would you know what to do?

Charles Baus/Cal Sport Media

During the Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ game against New Mexico State on September 10, the Gophers head coach Jerry Kill suffered a seizure on the sidelines.

It has been made known that Kill has a history of seizures. The seizure he suffered on the field is categorized as a tonic clonic or grand mal seizure.

What’s a tonic clonic seizure
A generalized tonic-clonic seizure is a seizure involving the entire body. The seizures usually involve muscle rigidity, followed by violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness. After the seizure, the person may have the following symptoms:

• Normal breathing
• Sleepiness that lasts for 1 hour or longer
• Loss of memory (amnesia) regarding events surrounding the seizure episode
• A migrane like headache
• Drowsiness
• Confusion

What happened?
If you have not seen the footage of Coach Kill’s seizure, I encourage you to take a look at the video below. It is interesting to see the reactions from the people on the field, in the stands and those of his fellow coaches. There is clearly a feeling of widespread fear and confusion.

Video of Coach Kill’s Seizure

Not just a negative nelly…
I wanted to offer a little educational information to the 80,000 people that were sitting in the stands that day at TCF Bank Stadium. Epilepsy Action, a UK organization, has prepared a video that details how to handle a tonic clonic or grand mal seizure.

The video also recognizes that there will be fear and concern but provides information on how to help. I hope you check it out.

Epilepsy Action: First Aid for a Tonic Clonic Seizure

Oh and if you want to get really mad…
Watch this one with the team doctor:
http://youtu.be/4_XWi_6bU34

PS. There were probably close to 1000 people in the stands that have epilepsy. I’m just saying…