Portrait of an adult outdoors who is on the autism spectrum.

Responding to Incidents Involving Individuals With Autism

Posted: April 25, 2024

1 min read
Find similar articles:
Health and Safety

Share on:

It is essential for first responders to learn how to assist people with autism in high-stress situations, prioritizing safety for all involved.

Autism

Autism, a spectrum disorder, is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others and can cause problems in social interaction and communication. People with autism may have difficulty understanding and interpreting social cues, exhibit sensory overwhelm and sensitivities, and have unique ways of processing information.

With 1 in 36 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism, encountering such individuals is inevitable for first responders.

Guidance for first responders

For individuals with autism, allowing extra time for processing information is crucial.

Maintain empathy and avoid judgmental statements, especially during meltdowns or outbursts.
Establish rapport by engaging with the individual's special interests.
When communicating, use clear language and avoid idioms. Utilize simple words or visual aids and explain procedures even to nonverbal individuals.
Be mindful of sensory stimuli and minimize overwhelm by reducing unnecessary stimuli and using sensory-friendly items.
Prioritize safety, knowing when to retreat from escalating situations and when verbal de-escalation is appropriate.

Resources for first responders

Kevin and Avonte’s Law (named to honor the memory of Kevin Wills and Avonte Oquendo, 2 boys with autism who tragically perished after wandering away from supervised settings) will allow for the expansion of training for first responders and caregivers. It also provides the foundation for the International Association of Chiefs of Police Home Safe program, which released a suite of resources in September 2023 for first responders:

This article is based on content in the
April 25, 2024 InfoGram.

Subscribe to the InfoGram

NIOSH launches Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Wellbeing

Read how NIOSH's newly launched Center provides a central point for partners to engage on firefighter-related research and services.

NIOSH project addresses respirator effectiveness with workers with facial hair

Religion, culture and medical reasons for workers with facial hair make it difficult to comply with OSHA's facial hair requirement that respirators be fit-tested to the wearer’s face to achieve a tight seal to the face. NIOSH announces a project to determine how well respirators offer protection to workers with facial hair using beard bands.

New resources help communities plan for extreme heat

Heat-related illnesses and death are largely preventable with proper planning, education and action. Get 2 new resources from National Integrated Heat Health Information System to support communities and local leaders with heat planning and response efforts.

Using standards when selecting and purchasing responder equipment

Read the report by DHS that provides guidance related to the use of standards when selecting and purchasing protective and operational equipment for public safety organizations, including law enforcement agencies, fire departments and emergency medical services agencies.

2023 East Palestine train derailment and hazmat release

The National Transportation and Safety Board releases its findings and recommendations related to the investigation of the East Palestine, Ohio freight train derailment.

Become a Gold Helmet Department

Become a Gold Helmet Department to show you're actively involved in helping researchers investigate the link between firefighting and cancer. The Gold Helmet Challenge is an initiative from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to recognize fire departments that achieve high participation rates in the National Firefighter Registry.