49% of children with autism engage in wandering behaviors National Autism Association Facts about wandering & AutismIt is known widely that people who have autism are prone to wandering. They aren't as aware of their surroundings. Often guided by their own mind or curiosity, they venture past their safety zone into the world without supervision or a sense of danger. Wandering isn't their fault; they don't wander to be malicious. A lot of the problem has to do with environment awareness, something that many struggle with because of the overstimulating nature of the world. My son would be a prime example of a child who would wander away because he's lost in his own mind. He isn't afraid of cars. He probably wouldn't even be aware of other people around him. It is just what his mind wants to follow. The Problems with wandering
DrowningPeople with ASD seemed to be attracted to water as a sought out sensory input, any form of water is a possible accident waiting to happen. With their lowered sense of danger and their attraction to water, caregivers of those with autism need to be aware of bodies of water near their home or school. It always should be in the back of their mind, and also, have a plan to prevent an accidental drowning. 42% of autism-related wandering cases involving a child age 9 and younger have ended in death Accidental drowning accounts for approximately 90% of lethal outcomes More over, 32% of parents reported a "close call" with drowning. The threat of drowning is very great for peoples who autism, especially younger ones. Though in more recent years, more and more older people with ASD are showing wandering behavior and accidental deaths. Now than ever, parents must be persistent in keeping their house a safe environment to prevent any accidents or injuries. What Can YOU DO?There are about three things you can do to prevent an accidental drowning for your loved one. One is simply not living in an area near any bodies or water such as large ditches, decorative ponds, rivers or lakes. This first thing might be something out of your control. However, if your child or loved one is prone to wandering at least once a week and you have a genuine belief that they might accidentally drown themselves, you should consider moving to a safer location. This burden on a family can be great, I empathize with that vastly. But it would be a smart choice to prevent any heartbreak in the future. The second thing is something that most ASD households do, but maybe it needs to be updated: make it escape proof. This is a serious kick in the face to anyone who knows that autism children are little escape artists and are too smart when it comes to wandering. It is quite a big prevention of accidental deaths. The National Autism Association sent out Big Red Safety Boxes for free or donation to families with autistic children. Inside were two door/window alarms (available on Amazon, no more than $20), a few stop sign stickers to place inside your home, a bracelet for a child to wear in case of escape AND an information packet on what to do in an emergency and how to prevent any accidents. Really, making the house more secure can only benefit a family. I use a door jam in my sliding door to keep Hilo from going out on the deck without supervision, and in an emergency, this could prevent an intruder from entering my home. Window and door alarms are the same way. They keep out and keep in. Lastly on the list is swimming lessons. Swimming lessons! I know it can seem kind of obvious to lots of people, but it can be a scary idea for parents. We may not feel their mature enough to remember, or able to swim, or even able to learn in the class. Swimming lessons would be a complete change of environment, a new teacher and without a parent present. That can be a scary circumstance for a parent. Autism-centered swim lessons have been popping up all over the nation because of the rise in the autism population. YMCA is a chain that offers special swimming lessons for those with autism (depending on your facility). Click the button below to find who to contact and where the lessons are offered. It is a life saving investment. Give us a like if you'd like to see more of us!
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AuthorGabrielle Rae is a special needs, stay at home mommy of two boys. She enjoys reading and writing novels in her spare time. @onbothfrontsArchives
August 2018
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