JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 4-year-old with autism died Tuesday night after he went missing and drowned in a Baymeadows area retention pond.
After the tragedy, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shared several safety recommendations to help parents prevent these situations.
Police say one of the most important things people can do is call 911 immediately if someone disappears, then start looking for them right after that. JSO says every second is crucial.
Investigators say the 4-year-old boy was found in a pond that was less than 1,000 feet away from where he lived.
News4JAX has, unfortunately, had to cover several stories similar to this over the years.
Parents and guardians who have a child with autism should consider finding a swimming instruction class to teach them the necessary survival skills needed in water.
With water seemingly everywhere in Northeast Florida, enrolling kids in swimming classes at an early age is something all parents should think about.
Parents and guardians can consider getting waterproof monitoring devices and should emphasize the dangers of water to their children.
According to Autism Speaks, the largest autism research organization in the country, several practical things can be done to help with prevention.
If a loved one is prone to wandering, people should consider taking a picture of them every day after they are dressed for the day. That would help search teams know exactly who they are looking for and provide key details to be aware of, including clothing colors and patterns.
You can install door and window alarms and hard-to-reach locks on doors for extra layers of protection. These safety measures could help prevent someone from leaving a house or property without someone else knowing.
Consider installing a video doorbell system and ask neighbors if they have something similar.
If someone disappears in cases similar to what happened in Baymeadows on Tuesday, video doorbell systems or surveillance cameras can help search teams determine which direction they wandered.
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.
The Autism Society of Florida says 50% of children with autism wander, with nearly all of them gravitating toward water.
JSO Lt. Adam Blinn says what happened to the 4-year-old boy in Baymeadows is not uncommon.
“It is something that tragically does happen pretty frequently,” Blinn said during a news conference Tuesday night. “We respond as quickly as we can. [Retention ponds are one] area that the patrol officers are trained to go. They go check bodies of water and things like that first thing. Unfortunately, we did not get there in time.”
Another recommendation is to sign up for the R.E.V.A.M.P. registry.
It is a place where people can share important details about loved ones that can help the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and other first responders in any search for a missing person.
First responders would only be able to access the information once a search is activated. Before that, all of the data is kept private.
People can register here: https://jax.readyop.com/fs/4cvd/c68a41b3.
