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What are the best practices to keep children with autism safe?
Swimming safety for kids with autism is a constant concern for parents and caregivers, especially in places like Connecticut, where many families have pools or live near lakes, rivers, and beaches. While access to water may seem harmless, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a significantly higher risk—they are 160 times more likely to drown compared to neurotypical children.
Over the past decade, the number of children with ASD who have drowned has risen sharply. In 48% of cases, this happens because the children wander away from their caregivers; sadly, 74% of these instances result in drowning. Water, with its glitter, bubbles, and sensation on the skin, is naturally attractive to children with autism. Still, their lack of recognition of danger turns that attraction into a severe risk.
Considering this reality, it’s common for many parents to question: What are the best practices to keep children with autism safe? Although contact with water is unavoidable, there are practical strategies for preventing drowning in children with autism.
At ABA Centers of Connecticut, we work for the well-being of the neurodiverse community and understand the challenges faced by families of children on the spectrum. Through ABA therapy, we offer personalized support to teach essential skills that promote swimming safety for kids with autism, helping families protect their loved ones at all times.
Autism and Water Safety: Understanding the Risks
When discussing the autism spectrum, it is crucial to understand that each exhibits unique traits with varying degrees of severity. However, specific common characteristics can elevate the risk of drowning.
- Attraction to Water
Many children with autism feel attracted to bodies of water due to their sensory sensitivities and curiosity. However, this attraction can quickly become dangerous as these children may not recognize the inherent risks associated with water.
- Communication Challenges
Children with autism often face significant communication challenges, making it difficult for them to call for help or understand verbal warnings about water safety. Their inability to effectively communicate distress makes swimming safety for kids with autism particularly crucial, as it can lead to delayed responses in emergencies.
- Difficulty Detecting Danger
Autism can impair a child’s ability to detect and understand danger. Children with autism may fail to recognize hazardous situations, such as deep water or strong currents. This lack of danger awareness increases the risk of drowning, as they may not take necessary precautions or avoid risky behaviors near water.
- Anxiety and Panic
Many children with autism experience high levels of anxiety, which unfamiliar or overstimulating environments can exacerbate. In a state of panic, they may struggle to stay calm or remember safety instructions, thereby increasing the risk of drowning.
- Inability to Recognize Authority Figures
Children with autism may have difficulty recognizing and responding to authority figures such as lifeguards or police officers. This inability can be particularly dangerous in water-related situations where immediate compliance and understanding of instructions are vital for safety.
- Tendency to Wander
One of the most pressing risks is the tendency of children with autism to wander away from their caregivers. According to the National Library of Medicine, wandering behavior can lead them to unsupervised bodies of water near their home, significantly increasing the risk of drowning. The urgency of addressing swimming safety for kids with autism becomes apparent when considering these wandering tendencies.
A recent heartbreaking incident in Sutton, Massachusetts, underscores the dangers associated with autism and accidental drowning. A four-year-old girl with autism wandered away from her home and was tragically found lifeless in a neighbor’s pool, as reported by NBC Boston. This case highlights the severe risks that children with autism face around water.
5 Strategies for Swimming Safety for Kids with Autism
Understanding practical strategies to enhance swimming safety for kids with autism is crucial for parents and caregivers, especially given the significant risks associated with autism and water safety.
- Sign Up Your Child For Swimming Lessons: Swimming lessons not only enhance motor skills and physical strength in children with autism but also aid in sensory regulation, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation. By learning to swim, children acquire essential skills that increase their safety in the water, significantly decreasing the risk of drowning.
- Strengthen Skills with ABA Therapy: ABA therapy helps children develop critical safety skills, such as improved communication, healthy coping mechanisms during stress, reduced wandering behaviors, and the ability to interact effectively with authority figures. These skills are vital in ensuring water safety for kids with autism.
- Use Visual Aids to Teach Water Safety: Children with autism often struggle with understanding verbal instructions, making visual tools highly effective for teaching safe behaviors around water. Programs like the American Red Cross’s “Whale Tales” provide accessible and engaging methods to convey water safety practices visually.
- Practice Repetition and Positive Reinforcement: Techniques like positive reinforcement, widely used in ABA therapy, are highly effective for children with ASD. By offering small rewards for safe behaviors—such as staying close to an adult or avoiding bodies of water—children learn and internalize these critical safety habits.
- Educate Your Community About Safety Measures: In communities where private pools are common, it is essential to discuss water safety and autism with your neighbors. Highlight the importance of installing barriers and fencing around pools to prevent accidents and protect children with autism.
ABA Centers of Connecticut: Promoting Autism Safety
At ABA Centers of Connecticut, we recognize the vital importance of swimming safety for kids with autism. As dedicated advocates for neurodiversity, we urge parents to provide their children with a well-rounded therapeutic approach that integrates ABA therapy with specialized autism swim lessons. To further support the development and safety of children on the spectrum, our RBTs are available to accompany and assist young learners during their swimming lessons if needed.
During our ABA therapy sessions, children develop crucial skills that enhance their safety around water, effectively manage anxiety, and reduce wandering behaviors. Additionally, they learn essential communication and interaction techniques to engage appropriately with authority figures and respond correctly in emergencies.
Prevention is critical to saving lives. If you wish to empower your child with autism through ABA therapy, call us at (844) 395-0448 or contact us online.
