What is the best epilepsy head protection for people at risk of seizures or falls?

By Published On: 20/01/202611 min read
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What is the best type of head protection for epilepsy?

The best epilepsy head protection depends on seizure type, fall risk, and whether protection needs to be worn throughout the day. For many people, the best option is head protection that is independently tested, legally certified, and comfortable enough for consistent daily wear. While hard helmets and padded headgear may help to reduce cuts and abrasions, CE/UKCA Category II PPE-certified protective headwear is often the strongest option for everyday use because it combines safety validation with practical wearability.

Rezon Halos®, a CE/UKCA Category II PPE-certified protective headband suitable for wearers of all ages from infancy through older adulthood, is designed to help reduce the transmission of rotational forces to the brain during unexpected head impacts. Rezon Halos® is listed in Epilepsy Action’s Epilepsy Technology Guide as a protective headwear option for children and adults affected by epilepsy.

Why people with epilepsy face a higher risk of head injury

Seizures can occur without warning and may involve sudden collapse, loss of muscle control, or impaired awareness. During these moments, people are often unable to brace themselves or protect their head, increasing the likelihood of head impacts [1].

Additional factors can further raise risk, including:

  • Falls from standing height
  • Previous head injuries, which may increase brain injury vulnerability
  • Environmental hazards in the home or community

Because many seizures happen during everyday activities and are unpredictable, head injury risk is not limited to specific settings or high-impact environments. This is why protection that can be worn discreetly during daily life is often considered by patients and caregivers.

Image shows a young child wearing Rezon Halos® brain protection while playing in the garden.

What types of head protection are commonly used in epilepsy?

Several types of head protection are used by people with epilepsy. Understanding the differences between them, and particularly whether they are CE/UKCA certified as PPE, is important when considering everyday safety.

Are hard helmets the best option for epilepsy?

Hard-shelled helmets are effective at reducing linear impact forces in specific environments, such as cycling or construction settings. However, they are generally designed for situational use, not continuous daily wear. Their bulk, visibility, and weight can make them impractical for use during routine activities at home or in the community.

Conventional seizure helmets are typically certified for specific activities rather than unpredictable, everyday falls or seizure-related impacts [2].

Are padded seizure helmets enough for everyday protection?

Soft-shell and soft-padded helmets or headguards are sometimes used for epilepsy, particularly in care or institutional settings. While these can provide cushioning or impact absorption, they often:

  • Vary widely in quality and safety testing standards
  • Lack recognised CE/UKCA PPE certification
  • Can be bulky or visually conspicuous, affecting comfort and dignity

For patients and caregivers, the absence of formal safety testing and certification can make it difficult to assess how much protection is actually being provided.

Why certified PPE may be the best option for everyday epilepsy head protection

Certified personal protective equipment (PPE) represents a higher standard of safety assurance. CE/UKCA Category II PPE certification indicates that a product has been independently assessed to reduce risks from impacts that could cause serious injury beyond cuts and scrapes [3]. Headgear can only be UKCA/CE Category I PPE if it is claimed to be protection from superficial mechanical injury (e.g. light scuffs and abrasions), but as soon as you include impact or the possibility of concussion and brain injury, the risk of injury are subcutaneous and not superficial.

Unlike many traditional padded headguards, Rezon Halos® is available in multiple styles and designs, allowing it to be worn as a contemporary, discreet accessory rather than overt protective equipment. This can improve comfort, dignity, and willingness to wear protection consistently in daily life.

Rezon Halos® is the first and currently the only protective headband of its type to achieve CE and UKCA Category II PPE certification in the UK and Europe, making it legally approved for sale and use as protective headwear under applicable regulations. Under UK and European law, protective headwear and PPE must comply with relevant safety regulations before it can be legally sold. Products that claim to reduce injury risk but lack appropriate certification do not meet these legal requirements.

This certification confirms that Halos® is designed and tested to reduce exposure to impact forces which damage the brain, rather than simply offering impact padding or comfort. Rezon Halos® has also been independently tested by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, and achieved the highest Five Star Rating. The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab uses an internationally recognised, peer-reviewed biomechanical methodology to evaluate how effectively headgear reduces concussion risk. In the headgear testing area, it is considered the gold standard of biomechanics testing.

For people with epilepsy, PPE certification is hugely important because:

  • Seizures are unpredictable
  • Impacts may occur during routine daily activities
  • Protection needs to be reliable, consistent, and independently safety tested and validated by PPE law
  • The likely damage from the head impact is more than superficial mechanical injury (e.g. light scuffs and abrasions)

What should the best head protection for epilepsy offer?

  • Independent testing for brain-injury-related impacts
  • CE/UKCA Category II PPE certification
  • Suitability for continuous daily wear
  • Discreet and low-profile design
  • Compatibility with glasses, hearing aids, and different hair types
  • Practical use in normal life, including home and community settings

Comparing commonly used epilepsy headgear

The table below compares several types of headgear commonly recommended or supplied through charities, medical suppliers, and care equipment providers, for epilepsy, neurological conditions, or special needs protection.

The comparison focuses on objective criteria including biomechanical testing, CE/UKCA PPE certification status, suitability for everyday wear, and practical considerations such as compatibility with different hair types.

Protection Comparison Criteria Rezon Halos® Ribcap Danmar / soft helmets Head Protex HP1 / 2 / 3 Special Needs Helmet Conventional sports headgear / scrum caps
Is the product designed to reduce brain injury risk? Yes No No No No No
Is the product CE / UKCA certified as PPE? Yes. CE / UKCA Category II PPE No PPE Classification No PPE Classification No PPE Classification No PPE Classification Typically no PPE Classification
Is the product a registered medical device?  Yes. FDA Registered (US). No No No No No
Is rotational force reduction independently tested? Yes. Up to 61%* No publicly available testing No publicly available testing No publicly available testing No publicly available testing In some cases
Does the product have independent biomechanical testing? Yes. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab 5-Star Rating No published biomechanical testing No published biomechanical testing No published biomechanical testing No published biomechanical testing No World Rugby approved product has declared a 4- or 5-Star Virginia Tech rating
Is linear impact reduction independently tested?  Yes. Up to 64%* No publicly available testing No publicly available testing No publicly available testing No publicly available testing In some cases
Is it designed for continuous wear? Yes No No No No No
Can it be worn when swimming or bathing? Yes No No No No No
Is it suitable for all ages? Yes No No No No No
Is it suitable for all hair types? Yes No No No No No
Is it machine washable?  Yes No No No No In some cases
Can it be worn with glasses? Yes In some cases In some cases In some cases In some cases No
Can it be worn with cochlear implants and hearing aids?  Yes In some cases No No No No

For people who need head protection for epilepsy in everyday life, the best option is usually the one that combines legal certification, independent biomechanical testing, and practical wearability. Products that offer only padding may still be used in some settings, but they do not necessarily provide the same level of safety assurance for unpredictable daily falls.

Learn more in this epilepsy helmet and seizure helmet guide.

How does Rezon Halos® support risk reduction for people with epilepsy?

Rezon Halos® is designed to reduce the transmission of rotational forces to the brain during head impacts. Rotational forces are strongly associated with brain injury risk, and are present in all head impacts, whether caused by falls or unexpected impacts.

Rotational forces cause the brain to rotate inside the skull. This is associated with tearing of tiny blood vessels and brain cells resulting, over time, in the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and the creation of damaging neuro-inflammation

“My daughter has epilepsy and these are the best protective headbands she has worn.”

J. Sampson
Rezon Halos® Hexo Black

Purchased:
Halos® Hexo Black | Extra Small

Independent testing has shown that Rezon Halos® can reduce concussion risk from head impacts by up to 74% and reduce rotational force transmission by at least 60% [4]. This data reflects performance under controlled conditions and supports its use as adjunctive neuroprotection for people at increased risk of head impacts.

Additional features that make it suitable for epilepsy-related risk include:

  • CE/UKCA Category II PPE certification
  • Virginia Tech 5-Star Safety Rating [5]
  • Discreet, low-profile design suitable for daily wear
  • Compatibility with glasses, hearing aids, and cochlear implants

By offering certified UKCA/CE protection that can be worn during everyday activities, Rezon Halos® supports risk mitigation without restricting movement or replacing medical care for wearers of all ages.

Why families choose Rezon Halos® instead of traditional medical helmets

Families often choose Rezon Halos® because it combines comfort, discretion and serious safety evidence.

Rezon Halos® is:

  • CE/UKCA Category II PPE-certified
  • Virginia Tech 5-star rated
  • designed to reduce rotational and linear force transmission
  • built around patented Rotection® technology
  • discreet in a headband format
  • available in different colours
  • suitable for extended daily wear
  • suitable for all ages
  • suitable for sleep, bathing and swimming
  • compatible with glasses, hearing aids, cochlear implants and different hairstyles
  • machine washable

The aim is to reduce risk while preserving independence, dignity and confidence.

Rezon Halos® Black.
Image shows a woman playing on a games console while wearing Rezon Halos®.

When might head protection be considered for epilepsy?

Head protection may be considered by individuals of all ages with epilepsy, from infants as young as one month through to older adults, or chosen by caregivers, or clinicians in situations such as:

  • Frequent or uncontrolled seizures
  • History of falls or head injuries
  • Increased vulnerability following a concussion/brain injury
  • Periods of return to activity under medical guidance
  • Daily living environments where falls are more likely

The decision to use head protection is personal and should be made alongside existing care and safety planning [6].

Frequently asked questions about head protection for epilepsy

Rezon Halos® is a CE/UKCA Category II PPE-certified protective headband designed to be discreet, lightweight, and suitable for everyday activities for wearers of all ages. Rezon Halos® can also be worn while swimming or bathing, unlike many other products and during sleep.

Head protection can help reduce exposure to impact forces during seizures or falls, which lowers the risk of further brain injury. Rezon Halos® reduces rotational forces by up to 61% during head impacts, as part of an overall risk-mitigation approach.

Some certified head protection is designed for extended wear. Rezon Halos® is lightweight and compatible with daily activities, making it easier for individuals of all ages who may benefit from ongoing protection to wear it consistently as part of their routine, including in sleep. Rezon Halos® is also designed to be discreet, lightweight and stylish, unlike many of the bulky padded products that are available.

In the UK, Rezon Halos® is regulated as certified PPE rather than a medical device, reflecting its protective role rather than diagnostic or therapeutic use.

Halos is listed as class 1 medical device, depending on the geography the product is sold in. Rezon Halos® is not listed as a Class 1 Medical Device in the UK because the MHRA, an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and responsible for the enforcement of medicines and medical device legislation in the United Kingdom, does not require a registration with the MHRA as a medical device. This is not related to the efficacy of Halos® or the presented clinical benefits, expert opinions and evidence to the MHRA, but simply to the legal definition of a medical device as adopted by the Borderlines team at the MHRA. The legal definition of a medical device with the MHRA does not indicate that all products providing a “clinical benefit” must be defined as medical devices. This means that products in the UK may demonstrate a “clinical benefit” such as Rezon Halos® without them meeting the legal definition of a medical device.

Rezon Halos® is designed to protect the brain rather than provide full physical head coverage. Brain injury risk is primarily driven by rotational forces, not surface contact alone. The Halos® design focuses on reducing these forces by protecting the areas of the head most associated with rotational injury risk: the back, sides, and front.

Research indicates that approximately 6% of head injuries involve the top of the head, and these impacts are associated with the lowest rotational forces transmitted to the brain. By concentrating protection where rotational forces are greatest, Rezon Halos® covers approximately 53% of the adult head surface area while maintaining comfort, discretion, and suitability for daily wear.

Epilepsy organisations often provide general safety guidance and may reference a range of protective options to help reduce injury risk. However, not all products discussed or commonly used in practice are legally certified as personal protective equipment (PPE) under UK and European regulations.

In the UK and Europe, any product sold as protective headwear intended to reduce injury risk must comply with relevant PPE regulations and hold appropriate CE or UKCA certification. Rezon Halos® is the first and currently the only protective headband of its type to achieve CE/UKCA Category II PPE certification, confirming that it has been independently tested and legally approved to reduce the risk of brain injury. This distinction can be important for individuals and caregivers when choosing protective headwear for everyday use.

Rezon Halos® does not cover the top of the head. This is intentional. Halos® is designed to protect the brain by reducing relevant impact forces, especially rotational forces, rather than simply maximising physical scalp coverage.

The product covers the back, sides and front of the head, where higher-risk impacts are more likely to occur. The top of the head accounts for a much smaller proportion of head impacts, estimated at around 6%, and typically contributes lower rotational forces to the brain.

This open-top design also helps make Halos® more discreet, breathable and suitable for everyday wear. For many people with epilepsy or fall risk, consistent use matters. Head protection is only useful when it is worn.

  1. Epilepsy safety and injury risk. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab
  3. PPE regulations (UKCA / CE Category II). UK Health and Safety Executive.
  4. Independent Testing.
  5. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab
  6. Epilepsy Technology Guide. Epilepsy Action.

Author: Alex Reily

Alex Reily, Rezon Director.
Alex Reily is Director of Revenue Operations at Rezon, where he focuses on reducing brain injury risk. He is committed to increasing awareness of brain protection options, giving every wearer the choice to protect their brain.
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