Autism for First Responders-Autism for Fire

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This document provides important facts and guidelines for fire and rescue personnel when dealing with individuals with autism. Some key points to note are: <br /><br />- 50% of individuals with autism are nonverbal throughout their lives, and an additional 20% may become nonverbal when stressed. <br />- 30-40% of individuals with autism may develop epilepsy or seizure disorders during adolescence. <br />- Individuals with autism cannot be identified by their appearance, but rather by their behavior. <br />- When necessary to restrain an individual with autism, caution should be taken as they may have a poorly developed upper trunk area and positional asphyxiation could occur. <br />- Individuals with autism may have a different range of sensations and may not feel cold, heat, or pain in a typical manner. They may even fail to acknowledge pain despite having significant pathology. <br />- Communication should be in short, clear phrases, as individuals with autism may take longer to respond and may have difficulty understanding directives, especially when fearful. <br />- Individuals with autism may engage in self-stimulatory behavior, such as hand flapping or repeating phrases, and unless it poses a danger, it's best not to interfere with these behaviors. <br />- Autism is also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Delay, among other names. <br /><br />The document also addresses specific difficulties that rescue personnel may encounter when dealing with individuals with autism, such as locked doors, barred windows, locked gates, and hidden individuals. It provides advice on how to wrap individuals in a blanket during quick movements to provide security and prevent thrashing. Extreme caution is urged when rescuing individuals from heights, as they may exhibit aggression towards the rescuer. <br /><br />Other issues discussed include the use of systems that may seem neglectful or abusive but are in fact meant to prevent injury or address sensory needs. Families may use mattresses on the floor or secure furniture to prevent dangerous behaviors. Feces smearing is also mentioned as a not uncommon behavior. Firefighters are advised to investigate situations that may seem abusive with the help of a case manager or school official before reporting. It is important to avoid unnecessarily removing individuals from their homes if their needs are being met, despite their environment seeming unconventional. <br /><br />Overall, this document serves as a guide for fire and rescue personnel on how to effectively respond to emergencies involving individuals with autism, taking into consideration their unique characteristics and needs.
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Keywords
autism
fire and rescue personnel
nonverbal
epilepsy
seizure disorders
behavior
restraining individuals
sensory sensations
communication
self-stimulatory behavior