Stay safe when enjoying the outdoors
Enjoying the out of doors can be one of life’s simpler pleasures. Virginia’s Search and Rescue teams would like for all our residents to stay safe when outside exploring nature. There are just two simple ideas on how adults, teens, children and elders can stay safe and enjoy being outside:
How to stay safe in the outdoors
10 Essentials
Read about the ten items that you should bring with you on an outdoor adventure.
“LOST! . . . But Found, Safe and Sound”
A program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how they can be found more quickly.
Weather
Places to check the weather before you head out.
Wandering and Elopement in the Cognitively-Impaired Elderly
About one-fifth of Virginia SAR responses are for searches for our elders. It is estimated that up to 31% of nursing home residents and between 25% and 70% of community-dwelling older adults with dementia wander at least once.
Cognitively impaired individuals who wander are at high risk of injury. Elopement, in which the person wanders away from home or from a skilled nursing facility, is the most dangerous type of wandering and has resulted in death.
Those who care for our elders have to assess the propensity to wander, even in individuals who may not appear capable of wandering or elopement, and take proactive measures to protect these individuals. Factors that increase the risk of wandering and elopement include:
Unfamiliar environment
Recent change in medication(s)
Being left alone
Changes in routine or schedule
Spatially disoriented to familiar cues
Expresses desire to engage in a past practice or desire to “go home”
Minimizing the risks for wandering and elopement can include:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment if admitted to a long-term care (LTC) facility
Ensure family or LTC staff are aware of security practices to keep elders on the premises
Have meals together with others
Engage elders in regular physical and mental exercises
Install video surveillance equipment around the premises
Have elders wear electronic alert systems (watches, pendants, or shoe soles) that incorporates GPS and phone tracking (e.g., SafeTracks, TriLOC)
If an elder does elope, have the following information available for SAR resources:
Name, photo, personal information, identifying features of the elder
Any history of where the elder has eloped/wandered before
Any record of where and which direction the elder started out from