We've got a runner!

[GatezRN]

Hi everyone,

Looking to write some kind of policy and procedure guidelines for a "missing child." Our SpEd preschool has several "runners." Yesterday, one little girl slipped by the teacher and sent us all into a panic when we could not locate her right away. Thankfully this is a small school, we found her safe and sound within a minute or two, but I think my grey hairs popped out overnight.

Do any of you have a policy or "code" that you use in this situation. In the hospital we use Code Pink for a child abduction, and there is Code Adam in retail stores. I'm looking for a way to let staff know a child cannot be located and have a procedure that every person in the building will follow.

Thanks!

[OldDude]

We've moved away from announcing codes to announcing what the issue is. My recommendation is that if Little Sally has disappeared, for the child's safety and most expeditious search, you would announce you need assistance locating Little Sally from Room XYZ; all the teaching staff would take a stationary spot outside their rooms to monitor the hallways and the paras and support staff would start room to room and hiding place to hiding place.