Project Lifesaver
www.projectlifesaver.org
Project Lifesaver is an innovative and rapidly growing program aiding the victims and families suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and related neurological disorders such as Dementia, Down’s Syndrome and Autism. Project Lifesaver uses state-of-the-art technology employing wristband transmitters to locate wandering and lost adults and children.
Over 5,000,000 people in the USA have some type of Dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. That number will triple by 2050. Well over 50% of these people wander and become lost. A lost person with Alzheimer’s or other dementia represents a critical emergency as nearly half of them will die and many can become injured or fall victim to predators if they are not located within 24 hours. The number of people, families and communities experiences this risk will grow dramatically in this decade.
If you are not yet touched, in some way, by Alzheimer’s, Autism, Down’s syndrome or related disease, chances are you will be within the next several years. You will find it among neighbors, your friends, co-workers and their families, and perhaps within your own extended family. One in every 150 babies born today will show some signs of Autism. The numbers rise to one in ninety males babies born.
The name, Project Lifesaver, has become internationally recognized as an active and proven program that saves lives. Law enforcement officials and other volunteers from around the USA and Europe come to the Project Lifesaver Headquarters in Chesapeake, Virginia Sheriff’s Office for training.
How Project Lifesaver Works:
Project Lifesaver is much more than a passive ID bracelet. It is an active system that relies on state-of-the-art technology, and a specially trained search and rescue team. People who are part of Project Lifesaver wear a personalized bracelet that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the local Project Lifesaver agency (Call 911) that the person is missing a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer’s area and starts searching with the mobile locater tracking system. Search times; have been reduced from hours and days, to minutes. In almost 2000 searches there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths. Recovery times average less than 30 minutes.
The Project Lifesaver CARE TRAK bracelet is more than a passive ID bracelet. It is a one-ounce battery operated radio wrist transmitter emitting an automatic tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. The signal is tracked on the ground, or in the air over several miles. As each bracelet has a unique radio frequency, the Project Lifesaver search team positively locates and identifies the person who has wandered away from home or a care facility.
Technology is only half the story:
Members of the Project Lifesaver team, are specially trained, not only to use the electronic tracking equipment, but especially in the methods to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease or related disorder. Locating the individual is only part of the mission. The person, who is located, will be disoriented, anxious, and untrusting. The Project Lifesaver team knows how to approach the person, gain their trust and put them at ease for the trip back home.
Educational and community awareness programs have been a cornerstone to Project Lifesaver success. Project Lifesaver team members are also active in presenting information to civic groups, law enforcement agencies and various healthcare providers throughout their communities.
How Project Lifesaver Saves Lives and Community Resources:
*In Virginia, a 45 year-old man suffering from a traumatic brain injury became lost, and disoriented. A deputy sheriff specially trained by Project Lifesaver used a special tracking receiver and was able to locate the man 1.5 miles from his home in 20 minutes. A traditional search without Project Lifesaver would have normally involved the time (and expense to the taxpayers) of up to 26 searchers and 924 man-hours without the special tracking system.
*An 80 Year-old woman with dementia disease wandered from her home at night. The family contacted Project Lifesaver upon learning she was missing. Two Sheriff’s vehicles equipped with Project Lifesaver Emergence Responder Units arrived on the scene and within a short time located the woman lying in a field. She had wandered into the field, had fallen, and could not get up. She was, found, on the ground and covered with mud. Rescuers reported that a person standing up to 10 feet away would not have noticed a person lying there. The woman was helpless and could have died if not located by Project Lifesaver.
*A 79 year-old man with Alzheimer had left his home in Virginia Beach driving his truck. He became lost and could not find his way back home. After searching the neighborhood, a police helicopter located the man using the signal transmitted from his Project Lifesaver bracelet. He was located 14 miles from his home. Before he became part of Project Lifesaver, he wandered off and was missing for 2 ½ days before being found.
The bracelets cost a one-time fee of $300.00 and a $10.00 monthly monitoring fee. If someone cannot afford to pay these costs – the bracelets will be given, to them, at no cost. Currently we have bracelets on nine Onondaga County, and nine Oneida County residents. We will be adding more in the very near future.
Project Lifesaver, was founded in 1999 in Virginia, and to-date have completed nearly 2000 safe returns without one loss of life. Project Lifesaver is now available to all residents in Onondaga, Cayuga, Madison, and Oneida Counties. We are hoping to include Cortland and Oswego Counties in the very near future. Onondaga County is the largest enrollment County in New York State.
The Need is growing and so is Project Lifesaver:
54 MILLION PEOPLE now have Project Lifesaver coverage in their area. This equates to 18% of the United States Population.
7 of the 41 largest cities in the US now have Project Lifesaver coverage.
45 States now have Project Lifesaver member agencies
The UK, and Australia have Project Lifesaver legislation, and several other countries are pending (Spain, Guam, etc).
Project Lifesaver is protecting people in the following States:
|
Alabama (69%)
|
Iowa
|
New Hampshire
|
Tennessee
|
|
Alaska (39%)
|
Kansas
|
New Jersey (100%)
|
Texas
|
|
Arizona
|
Louisiana
|
New Mexico
|
Utah
|
|
California
|
Maryland (29%)
|
New York
|
Vermont (100%)
|
|
Colorado (43%)
|
Massachusetts (33%)
|
North Carolina
|
Virginia (65%)
|
|
Florida (33%)
|
Michigan
|
Ohio
|
Washington (50%)
|
|
Georgia
|
Minnesota
|
Pennsylvania
|
Oklahoma (36%)
|
|
Idaho
|
Missouri
|
South Carolina
|
|
|
Illinois
|
Nevada
|
South Dakota (39%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Pending
|
*Arkansas
|
*Indiana
|
|
|
Australia
|
Canada
|
United Kingdom
|
*Spain
|
Project Lifesaver is currently available in ten (10) counties in NYS:
Livingston County Otsego County Cayuga County Delaware County
Oneida County Suffolk County Madison County Scoharie County
Ontario County Onondaga County (Largest enrollment in NYS)
Soon in Erie County!