Whitehouse Station Rescue Squad adds sensory bags to help patients with autism, communication needs
Bags include noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys and communication tools to help patients with autism and other sensory or communication needs.
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The Whitehouse Station Rescue Squad has added a new tool, or tools, to every ambulance in its fleet. A small blue bag packed with items meant to help first responders connect with patients who may have autism or other sensory and communication needs.
Inside you’ll find noise-canceling headphones, various fidget toys, sunglasses, a whiteboard and markers, and ‘communication cards’ that use colors and common phrases to help someone who may be non-verbal communicate danger, safety, and discomfort.
Deputy Chief of EMS Harrison Laverty said the idea is a simple way to potentially help them save lives,
"We have more group homes coming into the area where we're seeing a lot more patients that don't communicate in a way that you or I might communicate," Laverty said. "So these are trying to bridge that gap in our patient care. We can have all the expensive equipment in the world. But sometimes the more human element of communicating with somebody is lost."
The effort is personal for Laverty as well.
"Personally, a family member who is autistic. And that was sort of, my motivation to enact this," he said. "Because as she's gotten a little bit older, seeing how she communicates and how much simpler it can be by implementing sensory items to kind of keep her calm was really a big driving force behind it."
Each member of the rescue squad has been taught the best practices for using the items, including limiting the amount given at once to prevent further overstimulation.
Whitehouse Rescue Squad first responder Alexa Stangota tells us they expect the bags to be a big aid in response,
“This truck can be very overstimulating, and with new people, that can be overwhelming for them. So being able to find a different way to communicate with them and be able to effectively treat them as well and find out what's going on… is really helpful for them and for us.”
