Someone missing right now? Call 911 first. What to do next

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Understanding wandering

Ten minutes here could help you bring a neighbor home. No experience needed.

The one thing to remember: if you think someone is lost and at risk, call 911, keep them in sight, and stay calm. You do not need to be sure.

1. What wandering is

Wandering means a person leaves a safe place, or the person looking after them, and cannot keep themselves safe on their own. You may also hear it called elopement or bolting.

It is common, and it is nobody's fault. It happens in loving, careful homes.

  • About halfof autistic children try to leave a safe place at some point, according to a Kennedy Krieger Institute study.
  • 6 in 10people living with dementia will wander at least once, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
  • Water firstDrowning is the leading cause of death after an autistic child wanders, according to the National Autism Association.

2. Why it happens

People who wander are usually going toward something or getting away from something.

Autistic children and adults

  • Heading to something they love: water, trains, a playground, a favorite place
  • Getting away from noise, crowds, bright lights or stress
  • Following a routine, like the walk to school
  • Simple curiosity, with little sense of danger

People living with dementia

  • Trying to "go home" or "go to work," even from their own house
  • Looking for a person or place from long ago
  • Confusion in a new or busy place
  • Restlessness, often late in the day

3. Where people go

Knowing where to look first saves time.

  • Water. Pools, ponds, creeks, lakes, drainage ditches, fountains. Check water first, every time.
  • Roads and tracks. Many people who wander do not judge traffic the way you would.
  • Favorite spots. Parks, playgrounds, stores, a neighbor's yard with a trampoline or a dog.
  • Small, quiet, hidden places. Sheds, cars, under decks, in bushes, inside closets. A frightened person may hide and stay silent.
  • Old familiar places. A person with dementia may head for a former home, church or workplace, and often keeps going in a straight line until something stops them.

This is why spotters matter so much. A quick look at your pool gate, your shed, your door camera and your backyard covers ground no search team can reach in the first minutes.

4. If you see someone who may be lost

Signs to notice: a child alone, especially near water or a road. Someone dressed wrong for the weather, barefoot or in pajamas. An adult who seems confused or keeps repeating a question. Someone who does not answer when spoken to.

  1. Call 911. Say what you see and where you are. Stay on the line.
  2. Keep them in sight. Follow at a distance if they move. Tell 911 which way they are going.
  3. Step in only for immediate danger. If they are about to enter water or traffic, put yourself in between.
  4. Stay until help arrives. You are the link between this person and home.

5. How to approach

Do

  • Come from the front, slowly, where they can see you
  • Keep your voice low and friendly
  • Use short, simple sentences. One at a time.
  • Give them time. Count to ten before repeating.
  • Get down to a child's level, with some space between you
  • Look for an ID bracelet, tag or shoe tag

Don't

  • Grab, hug or touch, unless there is immediate danger
  • Shout, chase or crowd them
  • Expect eye contact or an answer. Many people will not speak or respond to their name.
  • Argue or correct. If they say they are going to work, go along gently.
  • Take it personally if they pull away, cover their ears or run

6. Try it

What would you do?

  1. You are walking your dog. A boy about six, barefoot and alone, is walking fast toward the pond behind the townhouses. What do you do first?

  2. He stops at the edge and stares at the water. He does not answer when you say hello. What now?

  3. Police arrive. What helps most?

7. For families and caregivers

If your loved one is missing: call 911 right away. Do not wait. Say they are autistic or have dementia, and say if they are drawn to water. Check water first. Then see If someone is missing.

Before it ever happens, these organizations offer free safety tools and plans:

These are basics to build understanding, not professional training. Sources: Kennedy Krieger Institute Interactive Autism Network; National Autism Association; Alzheimer's Association. Last reviewed November 2026.