Moments of anguish and tension were experienced this morning at a school in Sabinillas. A schoolgirl suffered an epileptic seizure at around 10:15, at which point staff at the school immediately alerted the 061 emergency service, and what should have been a rapid response turned into desperation after a wait of more than half an hour.
The delay was not due to a coordination error, but to a lack of resources that casts doubt on healthcare in the area: the three ambulances operating in Estepona were busy attending other emergencies at that time. Given the saturation of the local service, the system had to send a unit from San Pedro Alcántara to attend to the pupil.
Fortunately, once the health services arrived at the scene, they were able to treat the girl ‘in situ’. After being stabilised and assessed by the medical staff, it was determined that she did not need to be taken to hospital, and the incident was left as a bad scare for everyone who had been looking after the child, including her parents, who had enough time to get to the school while they waited for the ambulance.
A healthcare system at its limit
This incident highlights, once again, the precariousness of healthcare in the area, a reality that residents of Sabinillas have long been denouncing. Relying on resources from neighbouring municipalities to deal with life-threatening emergencies in a municipality of more than 15,000 inhabitants has once again raised alarm about healthcare safety in the town.
«The lack of healthcare resources in the area is plain to see and is now a clamour among the public.»
Tomorrow, a rally for decent healthcare
This incident occurs barely 24 hours before a new mobilisation to demand decent healthcare resources. The Plataforma por la Apertura Íntegra del Hospital de Estepona had already called a new public rally for tomorrow, Saturday 13 December, at the door of Estepona Town Hall at 12:00.
The platform demands that the commitments made be met and that Estepona Hospital be opened in full to relieve pressure on primary care and emergency services. They call for «decent, high-quality public healthcare» in the face of the evident deterioration of the regional service.
🚑 Quick guide: how to act during an epileptic seizure
Given these delays in medical care, we would like to share some advice that could be very helpful if we find ourselves in situations similar to this morning’s. Witnessing an epileptic seizure can be distressing, but staying calm and knowing what to do is vital for the safety of the person affected. Here are the basic recommendations:
- Stay calm: Do not try to stop the movements or hold the person down forcefully.
- Protect their head: Place something soft under their head (a jacket, a cushion) to stop it hitting the floor.
- Safe surroundings: Move away dangerous objects or furniture they could hit themselves against.
- Do not put anything in their mouth: This is a dangerous myth. Do not try to insert objects, handkerchiefs or your fingers; you could damage their teeth or jaw, or get bitten yourself. They will not swallow their tongue.
- Keep track of time: Look at the clock. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, call 112 or 061 immediately and be patient.
- Recovery position: When the convulsion ends, gently place the person on their side to make breathing easier until they have fully recovered.
- Stay with them: Stay with the person until they fully regain consciousness and calmly explain what has happened.
