If you’re a parent or caregiver, the feeling of panic can be indescribable when your child has wandered off or stepped out of your sightline. This happens at grocery stores, malls, parks, and many other busy places. For parents who have children with autism, the alarm is heightened because their children may not be able to communicate how to find their families.
According to a study from 2012 published in Pediatrics, “Of the 1,218 children with ASD who were studied, almost half of those children had wandered off from home, school, or another safe place at least once after age 4” (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/Autism/Pages/Autism-Wandering-Tips-AAP.aspx).
The American Academy of Pediatrics has provided tips for parents who have children with autism. These tips include:
- Being aware of wandering triggers
- Securing your home
- Setting expectations and setting a regular sleep schedule for your child.
Read the article here for more details: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/Autism/Pages/Autism-Wandering-Tips-AAP.aspx.
Plan for wandering emergencies with your child’s pediatrician. The National Autism Association (NAA), has a Big Red Safety Box. This box is free and contains tools for autism families. It contains:
- Family Wandering Emergency Plan
- Emotion identification cards
- First-responder profile form
- RoadID bracelet
- Red safety alert wristband and more
Click here to see more details: https://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/. Children who have autism and who have a risk of wandering from a safe environment, qualify to receive this box free-of-charge.
Another tool to have for your autistic child is a medical ID bracelet. This ID comes with a red medic alert badge and allows you to customize five lines of text. If someone finds your child, they could contact you easily with this bracelet. This ID is $24.99 and you can find more information here: https://www.roadid.com/products/stretch-medical-rugged-silicone-id-bracelet.
AngelSense has created the only non-removable GPS tracking device for children with special needs. This device comes with an app for the parent. It has 1-way and 2-way voice to listen and talk to your child at any time. This device has elopement alerts, which will notify you every time your child leaves or arrives at a location. Find more information here: https://www.angelsense.com/. Click the link here for a coupon: https://www.angelsense.com/lp/invite-a-friend/beckyg0814%40yahoo.com/?v=20161211.
Elite Therapy Center cares about your child and their safety. It’s important to plan for these types of emergencies before they happen.
#JourneyElite #SafetyFirst