What should you know about NightWatch seizure monitor?

The device is designed for use during sleep, commonly worn around the upper arm. It looks for movement patterns that may occur during some tonic-clonic or other active seizures. An alert is a prompt to check the person, not a diagnosis. Ordinary movement, a restless night, or a loose fit may affect detection, and some seizures may happen without the movement pattern the device can recognise. It should support an agreed seizure-safety plan rather than replace supervision, prescribed treatment, or clinical review.

Follow the manufacturer and clinician instructions for fitting, charging, cleaning, and testing the alarm. Make sure the caregiver knows where the person sleeps and what to do when an alert sounds. During a suspected seizure, protect the person from nearby hazards, cushion the head, turn them on their side when practical, and time the event. Do not restrain them and do not put anything in their mouth. Record what happened, including movements, breathing, colour, recovery, and whether the alarm sounded, so the epilepsy team can review the pattern.

Call emergency services if the seizure lasts five minutes or longer, another seizure follows before recovery, breathing remains abnormal, there is a serious injury, the person is pregnant, or this is a first suspected seizure. Seek urgent assessment after a new or changing pattern even if the monitor did not alert. A seizure with fever, severe headache, stiff neck, or confusion can need immediate evaluation; possible triggers include [Meningitis](/conditions/meningitis/) or [Hypoglycaemia](/conditions/hypoglycaemia/). Alcohol withdrawal or heavy alcohol use may also need medical support; see [Alcohol Use Disorder](/conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/).

Ask whether this monitor suits the person’s seizure type, how an alert should fit into the written emergency plan, and how to check its performance. Clarify when to adjust medication, whether overnight supervision is still needed, and which details from an event should be shared with the neurology team.