Too often we tend to believe that problems that don't affect us directly are nonexistent, or almost. The phenomenon of missing persons who disappear without a trace is little known and mostly underestimated at a general level. Unfortunately, it is very much alive and constant, even if we don't hear much about it, partly due to poor awareness and communication on the subject. Let's try to shed some light on the matter and discover what tools are available when facing such an emergency.
The Time Factor
A first element to keep in mind when a person goes missing concerns the speed in realizing the problem and contacting Law Enforcement. Timeliness is fundamental. Reporting the disappearance as soon as possible is crucial for a successful search: it increases the chances of finding possible traces and witnesses, reconstructing events and routes taken. The time factor is also relevant when a person unable to communicate or identify themselves is found, as can happen with children or elderly individuals. Being able to identify them and, above all, immediately inform family members is fundamental. Fortunately, technology can come to our aid in this case too: the bluon.me smart wristbands for children, for example, offer a solution aimed at resolving these aspects, facilitating the reunion of missing individuals with their families.
Data Collection
Once the report has been filed, information about the missing person is recorded at a local level and in the Interforce Data System and, at a national level, in the Missing Persons Search system (Ri.Sc.). For each person, an Ante Mortem Form is compiled, accessible to professionals in the field, which contains all possible elements useful for identification: any distinguishing marks, information on physical features, description of personal effects and clothing worn at the time of disappearance, photographs, etc. Unfortunately, it's also important to note the possibility of cross-referencing such data from databases with those provided by medical examiners for unidentified bodies, present in the General Registry of Unidentified Bodies.
The National Consultation for Missing Persons
Established in May 2019, the Consultation enables communication, constant dialogue and collaboration among all associations of families of missing persons at a national level, Institutions and volunteer organizations dedicated to this phenomenon. Here is a list of the associations represented in the Consultation:
- Alzheimer Uniti Roma onlus
- Associazione Penelope Italia
- Associazione Penelope (s)comparsi
- Comitato Scientifico Ricerca Scomparsi
- Comunità di sant'Egidio
- Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico
- Croce Rossa Italiana
- Kiwanis – Distretto Italia San Marino
- Il colibrì onlus
- Psicologi per i popoli – Federazione
- Telefono Azzurro
The role of the Consultation is also crucial for raising awareness throughout the entire community about the problem of missing persons. No one should be forgotten. It's important that everyone be aware of the persistent existence of this phenomenon and, above all, know the behaviors to adopt and all the tools made available to help in the search.
#TimeIsPrecious
