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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.
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"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.
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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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