Key points
- Wandering (also called elopement) happens when a person with autism leaves a safe area or caregiver.
- Wandering is common and can become a life-threatening emergency within minutes.
- Drowning is the leading cause of death after wandering, so water is the top search priority.
- Families should call 911 right away and ask responders to search nearby water.
- Clinicians should assess wandering risk, plan safety steps, and document it
Understanding wandering and elopement
- Wandering/Elopement affects nearly half of autistic children at some point based on information from parent surveys.
- Individuals with limited or no speech, impaired safety awareness, or inability to respond to verbal commands may be at particularly high risk.
- Wandering is often driven by communication differences, sensory, anxiety, or attempts to reach preferred locations—not intentional misbehavior.
Risk factors and supports
Up to half of individuals with autism engage in wandering or elopement behaviors at some point, making it one of the most significant safety concerns for many families. Wandering—sometimes called bolting or leaving a safe place without a caregiver's knowledge—can quickly become a life-threatening emergency.
Because drowning is the leading cause of wandering-related death among autistic individuals, every minute matters. Immediate action, rapid community awareness, and prioritizing searches of nearby water hazards can save lives.
Drowning is the leading safety risk
- Drowning is the leading cause of death following wandering and elopement incidents among autistic individuals.
- Water should always be considered the highest search priority.
- Families/Caregivers should call 911 right away and ask first responders to search nearby water.
- Ask first responders to alert the public via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).
- Nearby ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, drainage canals, retention ponds, swimming pools, and other natural or man-made water sources should be searched immediately.
- High-traffic roadways and railroad corridors should also be considered priority search locations.
What families should do immediately
Step-by-step emergency guidance:
- Families/Caregivers should call 911 right away and ask first responders to search nearby water, high-traffic roadways, and railroad corridors.
- Ask first responders to alert the public via Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).
- Tell dispatch the missing individual has autism and describe any communication differences.
- Ask law enforcement to immediately search nearby water sources and major traffic hazards.
- Provide recent photographs and identifying information.
- Notify neighbors and nearby community members.
- Do not delay reporting.
Prevention and safety planning for families
Families are encouraged to take proactive safety measures to ensure the safety of their loved one with autism. Downloadable safety planning resources are available through Autism Speaks.
How the public can help
Community members can safely assist during wandering events:
- Search nearby water and traffic hazards.
- If the individual is located, avoid yelling or rushing toward them.
- Contact 911 immediately.
- In life-threatening situations, initiate rescue using calm, non-startling approaches whenever possible.
Resources for first responders
Downloadable guidance for law enforcement, EMS, firefighters, and search-and-rescue personnel from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Autism Association:
Resources for healthcare providers and medical professionals
Healthcare and other professionals need to be aware of wandering as a safety issue. Their role includes discussing safety issues and helping caregivers come up with prevention and response plans.
The ICD-10-CM code Z91.83 (wandering in diseases classified elsewhere) helps document wandering and to prompt important discussions about safety among caregivers, individuals, and providers. This code is not linked to a specific diagnosis, nor is it part of the diagnostic codes used for ASD or intellectual disabilities. Wandering should be coded if documented in the medical record by the healthcare provider.
Addressing wandering risk in clinical care
Clinicians should address the following when treating a patient with autism:
- Routine wandering risk assessment
- Caregiver counseling
- Safety planning at the time of autism diagnosis
- Well-child visit counseling
- Drowning prevention
- Documentation of wandering risk
- Available billing and coding guidance
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