Lesson 1: Who goes missing and why speed matters
People go missing for many reasons. Young children get separated from parents in busy places. People living with dementia, autism or other cognitive disabilities may wander and not know they are lost. Others may be in a mental health crisis or running from danger. Every case is taken seriously.
There is no waiting period. The RCMP says: do not wait 24 hours. Call police or 911 immediately if you are concerned about someone's safety.
What police will ask
- Full name and age
- Physical description: height, weight, hair and eye colour
- The last place the person was seen, and when
- What they were wearing
- Any vehicle they were driving
- A recent photograph
- Medical needs, such as dementia, diabetes or medication
Lesson 2: A lost child at your site
Many sites have a lost-child code or procedure. Learn yours. If there is none, these steps are a sound guide.
- Get a quick description from the parent: name, age, clothing, height, and where and when last seen.
- Alert all staff by radio or public address right away.
- Post staff at the exits to watch everyone leaving.
- Search systematically, starting from the last place seen, including washrooms, fitting rooms and play areas.
- Call police early, especially if the child is very young, has special needs or is not found quickly.
- Keep the parent in one place with a staff member so they can be reached.
When you find the child
- Stay with the child in a visible public place. Never leave them alone.
- Reassure them and radio your team.
- Confirm the child clearly recognizes the adult and that the details match before you hand them over.
- If anything seems wrong, keep the child safe and call police.
Amber Alerts
An Amber Alert asks the public for help when a child abduction meets set criteria. Only authorized police users can activate one. All of these must be met: the child is under 18; police have reasonable grounds to believe the child was abducted and is in imminent danger; there is enough description of the child, abductor or vehicle; and an alert can be issued in time to help. Parental abductions are generally not included unless life-threatening.
Lesson 3: People living with dementia
The Alzheimer Society says six in ten people living with dementia become lost at some point, often without warning. A missing person with dementia is an emergency. Risk of injury or death rises sharply if the person is not found within 12 hours, and half of those missing 24 hours or more are seriously injured or die.
Signs a person may have dementia
- Confused or disoriented; cannot give their name, address or where they are going
- Does not know the time or how long they have been out
- Dressed wrongly for the weather
- Fearful, anxious, angry or crying
- Gives answers that do not fit simple questions
Where they tend to go
People with dementia often do not know they are lost. They may walk in a straight line until they get stuck. They are often found in bushes or brush, creeks and drainage areas, or near roads and railways. Most are found within about 1.6 km of where they were last seen. They may not call out or answer to their name, so searchers should be quiet and listen.
Lesson 4: Approaching and helping
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Approach from the front, slowly | Coming from behind or startling them |
| Say your name and that you are there to help | Rough or quick touching |
| Use their name; speak slowly and clearly | Many questions at once |
| Give one idea at a time; ask yes/no questions | Arguing or correcting them |
| Acknowledge their feelings | Assuming they know they are lost |
| Remove your cap and use a calm voice | Leaving them alone |
Keep the person safe and warm, and call police or 911 so they can be reunited with family. When caregivers arrive, make sure everyone is calm before you leave, because the person may not recognize them at first.
Prevention at care sites
- Follow the home's plan for residents at risk of wandering, including door alarms and regular checks.
- Gently redirect a person who wants to "go home". Do not argue.
- Never lock a person alone in a room.
- Families can register with MedicAlert Safely Home for engraved identification, and use the Alzheimer Society's Finding Your Way resources.
Lesson 5: Records, evidence and patrol habits
- Note the time you got the report, who reported it and every step you took.
- Preserve camera footage, door and access logs, and the person's belongings. Record who handled them.
- Give police the footage and a copy of your notes.
- Read missing-person and police notices at the start of each shift.
- Report sightings to police with time, place and direction of travel.
The RCMP's National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) supports police, coroners and medical examiners and runs the public website Canada's Missing (canadasmissing.ca), which shares selected cases to gather tips.
Sample notebook entry
14:05 Mother (name, phone) reports son, 6, missing near the food court since about 13:55. Red hoodie, blue jeans, white runners, about 115 cm, brown hair. 14:06 Radio alert to all staff; exits covered. 14:12 Police called, file number noted. 14:31 Child found by Guard B at the east washrooms; child recognized mother; details matched. Footage from cameras 4 to 7 saved.