I am a doctor, and I am deaf. A deaf person is someone who cannot hear most things. For example, I cannot hear a fire or smoke alarm. Fire safety is important. I use a special fire alarm. There are different kinds.
Strobe light
This alarm makes a loud noise and flashes a very bright light quickly. It replaces your standard fire alarm
Shaking alarm
This alarm makes a loud noise. It also has a piece you can put under your bed or inside another piece of furniture. If the alarm goes off, it will shake the furniture. It connects to your standard fire alarm.
Low frequency fire alarm
This alarm sends out a sound that is deep. It helps people who cannot hear high pitched sounds, but can hear other sounds. It connects to your standard fire alarm.
Most companies can help you find someone to set up the equipment so it is working right. The equipment may even be free. It is important to test your fire alarm once a month and change the batteries regularly.
For more information on fire safety and where to buy fire alarms:
When a child is diagnosed with Autism, the last thing parents are thinking about is swimming and water safety. But, there is information that tells us they should.
9 of 10 children who die before age 14 do so by drowning.
National Autism Association, 2012
Drowning is a known danger for children who are 1 to 4 years old. The risk decreases with age for most children. For many children with Autism, the risk does not decrease with age.
Drowning is the number one cause of death for children with autism age 14 and under.
National Autism Association, 2012
Why are children with Autism at greater risk?
Many children with Autism are drawn to water. Scientists and researchers do not know why.
Running away from safe places is a problem for many with autism. This behavior stops happening around age 4 for typical children. For many children with Autism, it continues well beyond age 4.
Professionals rarely teach parents about the risk of children running from safe environments.
Language delays and sensory problems can make learning to swim difficult. Many children with Autism learn differently. What they hear may not be what is said. What they have to say may not be heard.
Sensory differences are also a challenge. Water temperature. Noise level. Touch. All can get in the way of learning.
Autism-specific swim programs are hard to find. Typical swim programs may not be best. Some children may need trained teachers. One-on-one teaching may be necessary.
What can parents do?
Manage the surroundings. Make your home safe. Use fences. Use door and window alarms. Consider a tracking bracelet for your child. LoJack Safety Net is waterproof and can be tracked under water.
If you have a pool, call a professional to help with making it safer.
Speak to your local fire and police departments. Be sure they know you have a child at a higher risk for running from safe environments.
Work with your ABA provider and/or school system to develop a plan at home and at school. Make sure plans are in place. How can your child be kept safe? What is in place to make running from safe settings more difficult? What is the plan if your child is missing? Ask your school or ABA provider to work on words such as “DANGER” and “STOP”.
Tell everyone who works with your child if your child is drawn to water. Identify nearby water sources. List them in your plan.
Helpful Resources
The National Autism Association has a program called Big Red Safety Box. It has safety information and tools.