Staying Safe This Summer: Preventing Elopement Risks for Individuals with Disabilities

For many, the warm weather of the summer season brings more time spent outside. Public parks, pools, lakesides, and beaches are popular destinations for families to spend a sunshine-filled day.

Unfortunately, for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities, crowded public places can pose an array of risks and make it difficult to enjoy a stress-free day. Many children with disabilities, particularly those on the Autism spectrum, can struggle with a behavior known as elopement. Elopement in this context refers to the act of a child leaving a safe environment without permission or supervision. This form of elopement can often be driven by different factors, including:

• Sensory seeking or avoidance (e.g., escaping a noisy environment)
• Pursuing a special interest (e.g., a fascination with animals, trains or water)
• Anxiety or stress
• Lack of awareness of boundaries or danger
• Difficulty communicating distress or needs

Common risks elopement poses include an individual wandering into traffic or falling victim to abduction. One of the most common and dangerous risks that come with eloping, particularly during the warmer months, is the risk of drowning. According to the Autism Society of Florida, Kids with ASD are 160 times more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their neurotypical peers.

Individuals with autism may be drawn to water for multiple reasons, including a special interest, fascination or the sensory stimulation that the water provides. This can tragically lead to an unprepared and unsupervised child entering a body of water and drowning. According to a study published by the NIH, 49% of survey respondents reported that their child with ASD had attempted to elope at least once after age 4. 26% of the children were missing long enough to cause concern, and of those who went missing, 24% were in danger of drowning. This means that for children with disabilities, taking safety precautions around bodies of water is of the utmost importance.

How parents and/or caregivers can mitigate the risks of elopement:

1. Ensure a secure environment: Install appropriate locks, alarms, and motion sensors on doors and windows, and/or consider the addition of fences and child-proof gates in the backyard to enhance security. While there are no federal regulations concerning residential pool fencing, parents and responsible adults should remain vigilant in implementing safety measures to prevent avoidable accidents.
2. Teach Safety Skills: Consider enrolling the child in swimming and/or water safety lessons. Children may also be able to work with a behavior therapist on teaching response to name, staying with a group and other elopement-prevention behaviors.
3. Use Tracking Technology: Consider utilizing GPS trackers or smart wearables to locate a child quickly after elopement. There are also ID bracelets and QR code tags that can provide contact information and details about a child.
4. Build Community Awareness: Alerting local law enforcement and educating extended family, caregivers, teachers and neighbors about the child’s needs and potential elopement risks can create a more watchful and supportive network.
5. Create an Emergency Plan: Creating a detailed Safety Plan/ Emergency Response plan that is individualized to the child and their needs can provide peace of mind and reassurance that clear directives are established for how to respond effectively during emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. National Care Advisors’ Certified Nurse Consultants can partner with parents or guardians of individuals with disabilities to create a thorough and detailed Safety Plan that considers all possible scenarios.

Elopement and wandering are not isolated to children with disabilities. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are also at high risk, but can be overlooked by passersby. Fortunately, more states have been implementing systems like “Purple Alert”, which works similarly to an Amber Alert but for individuals 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Just last month, Connecticut launched the “Purple Alert” system, making it the fifth state to do so. As of May 9^th, officials said there had been around 12 reports since the Purple Alert system was launched in late April. The “Purple Alert” works similarly to the other established alerts in Connecticut, with the caller contacting 911 to report the missing individual. The information collected by the dispatcher is then sent to the same team that handles Amber alerts. First responders are now also being equipped with specialty bags containing sensory-friendly items like heavy blankets and headphones to help them better interact with the missing person on the scene. This is a promising new step in creating a better and safer world for those with disabilities.

Contact National Care Advisors to learn more about our wide variety of services, including our thorough and individualized Safety Plan!