Reposted from EMR-ISAC

April is Autism Acceptance Month. Throughout April, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) and many national and international advocacy groups have been honoring the contributions and recognizing the needs of people on the autism spectrum.

Autism awareness is essential for all members of the community, but it is especially important for first responders. People with autism may have difficulty understanding and interpreting social cues, exhibit sensory overwhelm and sensitivities, and have unique ways of processing information. People with autism also have higher-than-average mortality rates, often from accidental death such as drowning or being hit by a car, or from medical causes, in particular epilepsy.

The 2024 Fire Department Instructor’s Conference (FDIC) International, which just wrapped up last week, featured a classroom session, Autism Awareness for First Responders. The Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) previewed this classroom session in March. The article provides tips on communication, performing a medical or trauma assessment on a patient with autism, and awareness information on wandering. Wandering, or elopement, among the autism community is of particular concern for first responders.

Additionally, the White House’s proclamation of April 2, 2024, as Autism Acceptance Day, highlighted the reauthorization of Kevin and Avonte’s Law, which was so named to honor the memory of Kevin Wills and Avonte Oquendo, two boys with autism who tragically perished after wandering away from supervised settings. This law will allow for the expansion of training for first responders and caregivers.

Kevin and Avonte’s Law provides the foundation for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Home Safe program, which released a suite of resources in September 2023 for first responders:

• Understanding Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Guide for First Responders.
• Children on the Autism Spectrum: Search Protocols and Questionnaire for First Responders.
• Tips for Caregivers Supporting Children on the Autism Spectrum.

Emergency response agencies may also want to explore best practices for response to individuals with autism that are being adopted by other agencies. EMS1 recently featured two emergency medical services (EMS) agencies’ best practices. Gold Cross ambulances in Salt Lake City, Utah, introduced specialized kits for paramedics in its ambulances designed to enhance their response to patients with autism. Earlier this year, a Minnesota family with an autistic son developed ‘sensory emergency kits’ for police, fire, and other first responder personnel to help them interact with kids and adults with autism.

These publications can be used by all first responders for training or updating standard operating procedures, guidelines, and plans related to response to incidents involving individuals with autism.

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