Safety Briefing
Prepared by Christina Adams, a mom
1. Every child needs to be kept safe. Children with autism need twice the protection.
2. Issues: Home safety, personal safety, outside safety, preschool safety.
3. Home: Put away chemicals, firestarters, and matches. Use latches and locks for stove, cabinets, breakables. Kitchen items like knives, BBQ skewers, corn holders, needles, razors, tweezers, small appliances like food processors should be secured. Hide or secure foods not on child’s diet. Turn down water heater temperature. Strap furniture and television to wall, so they won’t tip if climbed on or pulled. Put away lamps and use track lighting if necessary. Doors and windows may be rigged via an alarm system so that a chime sounds when one is opened. Pool must be fenced—buy the highest fence possible. Put aluminum pins or locks on sliding glass doors for added safety. Property walls may be heightened. Windows should be secured (especially on upper floors). Replace bedroom windows with Plexiglass for kids who might break glass. Electrical sockets can be covered. Move bed so child can’t get stuck between bed frame and wall.
4. Personal safety: Tell child via words or PECS who is allowed to touch or spank him or her. Depending on age and ability, describe who can touch private areas (doctors, nurses, parents, grandparents, babysitters if giving bath) and when. Tell all caregivers/therapists to inform you of any falls or accidents, and examine child every day for bruises, scratches or red areas. Consider a name bracelet for young (developmentally or age-wise) children. Newport Beach PD recommends using a bracelet with name and autism or other medical conditions, plus working phone number. (NBPD says risk of child loss or injury is greater than stranger abduction.) Customized bracelet available for $10 at Orange County Market Place (swap meet) on Fairview Drive in Costa Mesa, every weekend. Ask at info booth for vendor location. Use ABA techniques for safety issues such as street crossing, running away, and dangerous behaviors. When walking, parents, caregivers or therapists should walk on the outside part of the sidewalk, to prevent child from dashing into street. Inform caregivers and therapists that child must be watched at all times, if that is the case. Inform school personnel that police and parents must be called ASAP if child escapes from school. Make a personal plan for family and caregivers about what to do in case child escapes. Police say it’s better to call 911 ASAP. Have a recent photo on hand for police. If child escapes from home, ask neighbors to go out and look in neighborhood even if police are coming or are on-scene. Tell child in appropriate manner (verbal, PECS) that he or she is never to leave home without an adult. Use social storyboards, picture strips or ABA to illustrate and teach the concept.
5. Outside safety: if needed, use handicapped parking or special privileges to manage your child at amusement parks, malls or other crowded places or special events. Example: Disneyland will let you go to the head of the line if you get permission at Town Hall. Consider using a child harness and safety leash if needed at these events. Use bracelet. Use ABA, PECS or verbal instruction to teach child how to find police officers or security if separated from parents. If child is non-verbal or behavioral, put an “I have autism” T-shirt on him-this will help with public acceptance and identification if lost. Pin your cell phone number and name into child’s pocket. If child is lost, tell authorities ASAP so they can close the gates. If at an amusement park, make sure child stays in developmentally appropriate rides as he might get injured in rides that require self-awareness in safety. When visiting friends or family, make sure windows, doors and gates are secure. Ask about firearms, knives, matches, and other hazards if child is to be staying for any length of time or will be out of your sight or in the care of others. Inform them as to escape risk or other behaviors and ask them to call you and 911 if child is lost.
6. Preschool safety: Ask parents of other children with autism what their experience has been with local schools (some preschools do not welcome children with autism or their aides). Make sure school is set back from busy street and/or has heavy-duty pole or wall barriers. Look for a self-latching gate or a series of locked doors between classrooms and street or parking lot. Most entry/reception desks are not staffed at all times, even if preschool directors say they are. Ask what the student/teacher ratio is. Ask how staff deals with tantrums, aggression between kids, toilet accidents, and confidentiality of child with autism. If child rides the bus, find out how he/she is met at or accompanied to bus. For further preschool safety information, contact Sierra’s Light Foundation at (949) 251-1470.
7. When child grows older and displays negative behaviors or needs to be controlled, carry papers confirming child’s diagnostic condition in your vehicle, purse or wallet. If police become involved, proof of child’s condition may help prevent misunderstanding or arrest.
8. Ask for help whenever you need it. Many people will be ready to help once they understand the child’s condition. Report authority figures that are legally obligated to serve/protect/educate your child but who refuse to do so. Try to pave the way for other families whenever possible. As we make our children ready for the world, we must also make the world ready for them.
9. ID/Medic bracelets have a true need for special needs kids. Kids can easily get lost and having a bracelet that identifies the child and parents is extremely important. I got a great one cheap from MEDIC I.D. Call 1-800-439-8899. You can choose from a necklace or bracelet, for only $14.95 plus $1.95 S&H. For bracelets, you actually measure your child's wrist. They add 1/2" to wrist size, but I recommend adding 3/4-1" extra, otherwise they are quite snug. You can put on three lines of info. I put on my child's name, has autism, and our phone number. If you travel, you may want to order a second one that has a pager number vs. your home number.
DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS / GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS TO CONSIDER. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CHILD CARE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUR CHILD, HOME AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTS YOUR CHILD FREQUENTS.
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