How Do You Know You’re Lost?
We are now living in a second-story condo. It’s only two short flights of stairs up but—the real concern—we have no view of the parking lot below from the front door landing. If Charlie runs out on his own, he is most likely going to the car and he gets in if the door is open—-but “most likely” does not mean “always” and it’s that sliver of doubt that leads me to run up and down the stairs really really fast. Charlie has been getting accustomed to my saying “wait for Mom to get her stuff” and slumping in a chair.
Two reports today of missing autistic persons remind me of why vigilance is essential: Kyle Stevens, a 40-year-old autistic man who had been missing since Thursday was found today dead about an hour from his house in East Troy, Wisconsin. In Lakewood, Colorado, 15-year-old Jose Esperaza went missing on Saturday.
I get worried when I am in a store with Charlie, turn to take an item off a shelf, and don’t see him for a moment; I suspect he does not think that he is lost, just going to look at something. Making sure that Charlie has a bracelet or card or patch in his shirt with his name and our phone number is something we can do, but how to teach a child that he is lost and that he needs help?
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POSTED IN: Living Arrangements, Safety
6 opinions for How Do You Know You’re Lost?
erkolos
Sep 23, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I remember my dad always told me:
“If you are lost, stay still until we find you.”
Melanie, Bobby's mom
Sep 23, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Kristina,
Speaking of lost kids, that’s one of my biggest concerns because Bobby is fast! I have put these Kidtags on all Bobby’s shoes: http://www.kidtagz.com/.
I didn’t put his name on the tags, because of “stranger danger” - if someone knows his name he’ll go up to them. Rather, I put our cell phone numbers and “autistic, non-verbal” on the tags. Plus, I had the fact that he’s autistic and nonverbal added into the county 911 system and am on the waiting list for Project Lifesaver (http://www.projectlifesaver.org)
I think erkolos’ idea is what we’ll work toward next though - it’s a good one.
Linda
Sep 23, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Alarm the doors leading out so you can hear if anyone exits. Not a harsh or unpleasant alarm, maybe chimes, etc. Something to alert you and Charlie’s dad that an exit door has been opened.
Also, any type of identifying information will be helpful in the event that Charlie does become separated from you. His name, address and all emergency contact names and phone numbers. Prepare for the worst and expect the best!
Kristina Chew, PhD
Sep 23, 2007 at 11:41 pm
those are words to remember, erkolos……we had an alarm that rang whenever a door opened and closed in our old house. definitely found it helpful, plus.
Bonnie Ventura
Sep 24, 2007 at 9:40 am
I still remember, very clearly, my telephone number and address from when I was five years old, because I wandered away so often that my mother made sure I knew them.
However, as you point out, kids who wander aren’t likely to think of themselves as lost. They’re just exploring the big, fascinating world around them, and they don’t have a good understanding of how hard it is for their parents to find them in a crowded store, etc.
My mom usually had good success finding me in the toy aisles!
“Sometimes the only thing you can do is keep an eye on them”
Nov 23, 2007 at 12:01 pm
[…] off—of him getting lost—is omnipresent. The worry can be compounded by the fact that Charlie might not think of himself as lost, not to mention numerous other worries—stranger […]
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