FAQautism

In response to our FAQautism.com podcast about developing an emergency kit, a friend talked to me about some ideas for teaching individuals with autism how to respond in an emergency. Today we will take a look at a few of her ideas about emergency evacuations, great ideas based on her many years of experience teaching youngsters with special needs.

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My friend commented that, although schools, after school programs, and job sites have fire drills and emergency evacuation drills, most families don’t think to do the same at home. Naturally, we assume that we will be right beside our kids with autism or other special needs in the event of an emergency. But that is not always the case, so our youngsters with autism need to learn how to evacuate their home in the event of an emergency. Let us look at a list of emergency evacuation skills

1. STAY CALM. Let your youngster hear your home fire alarm. If possible, let them tour a fire station so they can see the firefighters in their emergency gear and so they can see and hear a fire engine and ambulance. Help the youngsters learn to stay calm in the midst of all these sights and sounds. And remember how important it is for you to remain calm also.

2. SAFE SPOT. Carefully select a safe spot – a meeting place for all members of the family in the event of an emergency evacuation. We have a big street light in the front corner of our yard. That is a good meeting spot because it is not too close to the street, it is out of the way of emergency personnel and equipment, and it is light at night. If you don’t have a pole or tree that will work as a safe spot, you might put a small birdbath or large decorative stone in a strategic place in your yard – a permanent fixture that marks a safe meeting place in the event of an emergency evacuation.

3. FIRE DRILL. We on way to help our friends with autism learn to follow an emergency evacuation plan is to practice. The procedure will become routine with old-fashioned fire drills. In the beginning, announce the emergency evacuation in advance. Over time, you want to have periodic unannounced evacuation drills, sometimes in the dead of night.

TIP FOR THE DAY: The motto here is to “Be Prepared.” Our friends with autism may never need to evacuate their homes in an emergency, but we need to help them learn and practice safety procedures. Practicing now can prevent panic, emotional meltdowns, and potentially dangerous behavior in the event an emergency evacuation is necessary.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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