Ulverston woman with epilepsy warns of the dangers of bright flashing Christmas lights

Anne McTavish suffers with photosensitive epilepsy and has said it has put her off going outside, something she is limited in doing anyway due to her asthma.

“The issue with Christmas lights is that people are effected with epilepsy,” the 59-year-old Ulverstonian said.

“They can go dizzy or become unwell because of this.

“My neighbour has put lights which have quick flashes, so I have to keep my kitchen blinds closed even in the daytime.

“I know we have had Covid and Christmas is coming up, so people are excited, but these lights are atrocious for me and others like me.

“Specialists have told me to avoid the triggers, but I cannot escape it you see as over the road people have just put them up.

“With the dark nights they stand out clearer and brighter, they are dangerous to drivers as well.

“I cannot really go out too much because of my asthma, and this is an added reason for me not to go out now.

“I can’t see family like I wanted to because of Covid, so this makes it a bit more depressing.”

Anne first decided to raise the issue in 2016 when she was bothered by both public and private displays of Christmas lights. However, she did say the public light display in Ulverston last year was perfect and was looking forward to seeing if they could replicate that this year.

PERFECT: Ulverston Christmas lights in 2019

In 2017 she launched an appeal for parliament to create legislation around the frequency at which certain lights can flash.

Lights in a public place are covered by the Environmental Protection Act (1990) and affected residents can make a complaint to the local council. However, there are no laws regarding the frequency of the flashes.

Around three in every 100 people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy in which all, or almost all, seizures are triggered by flashing or flickering light.

Both natural and artificial light may trigger seizures. Some patterns, like stripes or checks, can also trigger seizures for some people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Giving advice on lights which are epilepsy-safe, Ms McTavish said: “They need to have a slow flash or be still.

“It is the very quick flash which are bright and vicious that are the problem.

“I hope people can support this.”