Children with autism are drowning at an “astounding” rate in Florida, according to a new study by the Children’s Services Council in Palm Beach.
It reported that 121 children with autism have drowned in the state over the past 12 years, and more than 62% of those drownings involved ponds, canals, lakes or a neighbor’s unattended pool after a child wandered away.
According to the Autism Society of Florida, children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than other children because they are often attracted to water.
There is no definitive reason for why this attraction exists, but some speculate that it may be related to the calming aspect and its smoothness.
Parents and guardians of children with autism are encouraged to take extra precautions like installing door or window alarms and using hard-to-reach locks on doors for an extra layer of protection.
If your child does wander off, call 911 immediately because minutes, even seconds matter in these cases.
If possible, find a swimming instruction class for children with autism to teach them the necessary survival skills needed in the water.
And consider waterproof monitoring devices.