Elopement precautions (1917)

What is elopement?

Why are elopement precautions needed?

Your child is in the hospital because they need to heal.  Your child said or shows signs that they want to leave the hospital. To keep your child safe, elopement precautions are in place. 
Here are some of the things that will be done during elopement precautions: 

• Anything that your child could use to help them leave will be taken away.
• The outside of your child’s body will be checked. 
• A staff member will be with your child at all times. This includes trips to the bathroom and leaving the unit. 
• Your child will change into a hospital gown. 
• Electronics, clothes, shoes, and other personal items will be taken away.  If not taken home, they will be locked up. This makes it less likely they will leave. 
• Your child will not be allowed to use any devices that could be used to connect to social media. Social media is often stressful to children and teens. This could worsen their mood. 
• The team will let you know when and if electronics, clothing or other personal items can be returned to patient or brought from home.

Your role in your child’s safety

There are things that you and your family can do to help keep your child safe.

• Before taking anything into your child’s room, it must be screened by the nurse. Make sure that all visitors do this. 
• Visitors are restricted to family members over the age of 18 years only.
• Your child may have a limited number of visitors in the room at one time. A staff member will stay in the room at all times. 
• Talk with your child’s medical team if your child expresses a plan or intent to leave.