A Warning About Weighted Blankets

[Guest guest]

How heavy are these blankets anyway in proportion to the child's bodyweight? I if they are that heavy, then why isn't it just used at home where the parents can keep a close eye on it and limit the time it is used?

In a message dated 7/2/2008 10:24:43 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

A Warning About Weighted BlanketsGas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

[Guest guest]

http://www.autismedmonton.org/drupal/node/92

A Warning About Weighted Blankets

June 21, 2008 - 6:45am — admin

Memo: To all Autism Society Canada Members

June 18th, 2008 (Ottawa, Ontario)

Autism Society Canada has received a notification from Dr. Louise

Nolet, Chief Coroner in Québec urging us to make our members aware of

potential dangers associated with the use of weighted blankets for

children with autism. On April 18th 2008, a young boy with autism

died in the province of Québec. This incident was not in the media,

but there was reference to the use of a " weighted blanket " (French:

Couverture proprioceptives, Création Messim) in his school classroom.

This intervention is also referred to as " proprioceptive " input

or " deep pressure " technique. Deep pressure is used to assist the

individual to self-calm and relax so that sensory stimulus can be

processed. The use of a weight blanket is thought to provide the

child with unconscious information from the muscles and joints. This

therapeutic technique is used in schools, clinics, homes, and

communities.

Coroner Rudel-Tessier, Québec recommends;

" Because the therapeutic value of weight blankets does not seem to be

proven scientifically, and because of the fact that they pose a risk

for children's lives, we could be tempted to prohibit their use

altogether. However, I believe that it is possible to manage usage

in a strict manner in order to minimize the danger. I believe that

certain ground rules must be respected by those who wish to use this

sensory pressure technique, namely:

A health professional's advice must be obtained to ensure that the

use of the blanket is suitable for the child;

The weight of the blanket must be in proportion of the child's

physique and weight;

The child's head must never be, or be able to be, covered by the

blanket;

Vital signs should always be observable;

The child must never be rolled in a blanket (unless a therapist is

constantly at his or her side);

A child must never be left unsupervised;

The child must be able to easily slip out of the blanket if he or she

wishes to do so (it is not a confinement);

The child must express his or her consent to this, even if it is not

verbal. "

Autism Society Canada has been working for over thirty years to

increase awareness and understanding, and to promote evidence-based

services/treatment, best practices and standards for Autism Spectrum

Disorders. We agree with recent recommendations made by la Fédération

québécoise de l'autisme et des autres troubles envahissants du

développement (FQATED), the Québec provincial autism society, that

more training and protocol be implemented in the education system

when using these weighted blankets.

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