Car emergency cards for autistic kids: Paramedic approved!

The Autism News | English

By Becky Brown | Charlotte Autism & Parenting Examiner

Many parents share the fear of having a car accident while their children are in the backseat.  This fear is doubled when we consider how our child’s autistic behaviors may make his reaction to such an event scarier.

Who would speak for our children if we were injured and couldn’t speak for them?  How would our autie child respond to an emergency in the car?

It’s almost enough to keep you up at night.

One great solution is a nifty little card that contains every possible piece of information that emergency responders would need to know about your child.  A good place to keep it is in an area close to your child’s seat in the car such as the mesh pocket on the seat facing him.  It’s also a good idea to print it large and have it laminated.

Here’s an example of the kind of information the card should have:

In bold letters at the top the card should read: MY NAME IS ALEX AND I HAVE AUTISM.

Next, it should outline the behaviors you know your child may be prone to exhibit in such a situation.  It should be written in the child’s tone of voice to further remind emergency personnel that your child may be unable to speak for himself.

Possible phrases may be:

*I may not understand your verbal instructions to me.

*I may not speak at all or speak in gibberish to you.

*I may hit or kick you if you try to hold or touch me.

*I may run away from you or from this area if left unattended.

The sheet should also include a list of personal contacts and the order in which they should be called.  The hope is that one of these folks would be able to arrive quickly enough at the accident site to take over the care of your child if you are unable to do so or to accompany you both to the hospital and help with the care of your child there.

It is also a good idea to list on the sheet any other medical conditions your child may experience including medications and reactions.  And don’t forget to add your child’s physician contacts.

With all of these bases covered, and the approval of a few local paramedics in our area, this card is an invaluable resource for your vehicle.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18125-Charlotte-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m8d30-Car-emergency-cards-for-autistic-kids-Paramedic-approved

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