Police Warn of Water's Dangerous Attraction to Autistic Residents

From the Montgomery County Police Department:

Local police are warning Montgomery County residents to be aware that people with autism are often attracted to water sources such as pools, ponds, and lakes, and may gravitate toward bodies of water when they wander.

Drowning is the number one cause of premature death for individuals with autism.

As an example Montgomery police cited the case of a 5-year-old autistic boy, Tony Eugene “Gene” Cory-Ferguson, who on Tuesday walked away from his home in Missouri. About six hours later, law enforcement located his body in a pond near his home.

A caregiver/parent can take steps to prevent wandering and can make preparations in case their loved one does wander:

• Make every effort to make it difficult for your loved one to wander.  Install an alarm if possible.
• Reach out to neighbors for support. Examples of neighbor letters can be found on the MCP Project Lifesaver page.
• Create a 911 script – information that will be helpful to emergency responders should your child wander. Include a Google map of the area showing bodies of water. Do not hesitate to tell officers about the dangers of drowning.
• Make sure the loved one has identification on them at all times.
• Take a full-length photo and head-shot of your loved one.  Store the photos electronically so that if the person wanders, the photos can be sent to law enforcement quickly.
• Call 911 immediately if your loved one has wandered so that police can respond.

For more information or for assistance in dealing with wandering, contact Officer Laurie Reyes via e-mail at: Laurie.Reyes@montgomerycountymd.gov.

More information can be found on the Department’s website at: http://www.mymcpnews.com/resources/project-lifesaver/.