Project Lifesaver Tracking Device

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http://www.wetmtv.com/news/local/story/Project-Lifesaver/SM_FfU5aPEKXo-1SeEiaAg.cspx

http://www.wetmtv.com/media/news/4/2/1/421d8f94-224c-4fd5-9348-c248b378028b/Story.jpg

Reported by: Naveen Dhaliwal
Last Update: 9:00 pm

WATKINS GLEN - A new tracking device now being offered by a local sheriff's office may save the life of a loved one.

If you have a family member with autism or dementia, the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office has a new device that can help you.

Project Lifesaver is a national program helping patients return home safely if they wander away. Now the tracking device is being offered by the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office.

“It's designed for Alzheimer’s patients, downs syndrome person. It's made so that if they do wander we have a way of locating them fairly quickly,” says Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Yessman.

Kirk Smith, a corrections officer with Schuyler County, is trained to use the device and he showed us how it works. First, Smith says, a transmitter is put into a wristband that the patient wears. If a person wearing the wristband gets lost, family members can call the sheriff's office, who will then use the tracking device to locate the person.

The tracking device is like a handheld antenna. It makes a beeping sound as it locates the wristband transmitter.

“As you swing the device around, your picking up the strongest signal then it would give you the direction of travel to start locating that person. As we start coming closer to the device (wristband transmitter worn by the patient) the intensity of the noise then increases indicating to us that we are at a very close range,” says Smith.

This device can locate a person up to a mile away. The Sheriff says the average time of a search with the device is 30 minutes. That's compared to hours without it.

“We plan to offer it free of charge. But there are criteria they have to meet through Project Lifesaver, but we'll work with everyone to try to assist them,” says Sheriff Yessman.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from Project Lifesaver, you can contact the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office. The device is free of charge, but there is a $10 fee to change the battery on the wristband transmitter. The battery must be changed and the wristband must be tested every month at the Sheriff’s Office.

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http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/01/30/news/4325824.txt

Foxboro to train officers to find people who wander

Friday, January 30, 2009 2:17 AM EST

Local police department joins Project Lifesaver

FOXBORO - The Foxboro Police Department plans to train officers in a search and rescue program designed to help authorities to quickly locate persons with Alzheimer's or other disabilities who may tend to wander and get lost.

Individuals in the program wear personalized wristbands that emits a unique tracking signals. Rescue teams use mobile tracking units to pick up the signals.

Each wristband contains a small, one-ounce, battery-operated transmitter that automatically emits a signal every second and can be tracked from up to a mile from the ground and several miles from the air.

Called Project Lifesaver, the program is coordinated in Massachusetts by Norfolk County Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti. Project Lifesaver, which started in Virginia in 1999, operates in more than 40 states and Canada.

William Knight from the sheriff's office demonstrated the equipment recently as a guest of the Foxboro Special Education Parent Advisory Council. The transmitter is waterproof and worn day and night. The battery is changed once a month. Knight said 10 police departments in Norfolk County have completed officers training in the program, and that the Foxboro Police Department has signed up for the training.

Knight said all 12 individuals in the county wearing the band were located within 30 minutes after they were reported missing. He said this efficiency can mean the difference between life and death for the lost person. The speed of the rescue also reduces the costs of a search, and allows police and firefighers to attend to other public safety needs.

Individual clients enroll for $99, plus $30 per month. Project Lifesaver provides training to each agency at a cost of $3,000. For more information, call Knight at the sheriff's office, 781-751-3577.

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http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5lifesaver.6763741jan30,0,4563434.story

Lehigh County upgrades search-and-rescue program

Project Lifesaver geared to help dementia, Alzheimer's victims.

By Brian Callaway Of The Morning Call
January 30, 2009

Temperatures dipped to the freezing point the night Leoncio Hiraldo wandered away from his son's home in Allentown in March 2005.

Hypothermia had already killed the 83-year-old Alzheimer's patient by the time searchers found him several hours later, lying in a park not far from home.

If emergency responders had had a way to find him faster, he might have lived.

Now, Lehigh County's search crews have new tools to speed their efforts to find people like Hiraldo when they go missing.

On Thursday, officials announced the implementation of a search-and-rescue program called Project Lifesaver that's geared toward finding people with dementia, autism or other conditions that could cause them to wander.

Joe Hanna, an assistant chief with the Allentown Police Department, said the program should make it far easier to track down people who can be difficult to find.

''This is certainly a godsend to us,'' he said.

People who enroll in Project Lifesaver get special wristbands that emit a tracking signal; if a caregiver realizes the person is missing, they contact rescue workers who can use that signal to locate the person.

Organizers say Project Lifesaver equipment is now used by more than 800 groups in 43 states and has been used to find more than 1,800 missing people since 1999.

Project Lifesaver International, the Virginia nonprofit group that works with local groups that participate in its program, says the average search time using its equipment is only 30 minutes. Agencies had average search times of nine hours before they used its equipment, according to Project Lifesaver statistics.

Amber Whittaker, director of media relations for Project Lifesaver International, said the type of large-scale search efforts needed when people go missing are expensive, costing an average of $1,500 per hour.

The fact that her group's program can help cut down on search costs is attractive to some public officials.

''It helps to reduce the cost associated for searches, such as manpower, such as time -- it really has a great community benefit,'' Whittaker said. ''Of course the biggest is you want to find somebody alive.''

Lehigh County actually first got Project Lifesaver equipment only months after Hiraldo's death.

The sheriff's office, which had the equipment, never actively used it, though. Sheriff Ron Rossi has said his deputies were too busy with other duties to devote time to the Lifesaver program.

Lehigh County TRIAD, a local advocacy group for senior citizens, continued pressing for it, though, and last year the Allentown Police Department began training officers from various departments.

Officials said there are now about 35 officers from various areas able to use the equipment, and the Allentown Fire Department has signed on to make sure batteries in each of the devices continue to work.

Families who hope to sign a loved one up for Project Lifesaver could have to pay a $300 fee to join the program, but organizers said they have money set aside for people who can't afford that.

Judith Lieberman, the TRIAD chairwoman who helped lead the push for a local effort, said it could spread to neighboring areas if it's successful in Lehigh County.

''We have a very large population of seniors, for one thing, many of them with dementia and Alzheimer's,'' she said. ''This would be a safety [measure], and a respite device for caretakers.''

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What a great idea. I hope they bring this to NY.

The article below said it is used in 43 states do we know the states where they are available? Is this NYS? This is good news, I'd let my aunt know, I have an uncle with downs syndrome, he's 70 y/o and always wants to wander. He's has some dementia as well now and can't be left to wander.

Organizers say Project Lifesaver equipment is now used by more than 800 groups in 43 states and has been used to find more than 1,800 missing people since 1999.

This device can locate a person up to a mile away. The Sheriff says the average time of a search with the device is 30 minutes. That's compared to hours without it.

“We plan to offer it free of charge. But there are criteria they have to meet through Project Lifesaver, but we'll work with everyone to try to assist them,” says Sheriff Yessman.

If you have a loved one who could benefit from Project Lifesaver, you can contact the Schuyler County Sheriff's Office. The device is free of charge, but there is a $10 fee to change the battery on the wristband transmitter. The battery must be changed and the wristband must be tested every month at the Sheriff’s Office.

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http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/feb/05/pancakes-lifesaver/

Pancakes for a Lifesaver

By Tracy Agnew (Contact) | Suffolk News-Herald

Published Thursday, February 5, 2009

For anyone who likes pancakes and saving people’s lives, this Saturday will be a great day.

The International Association of Fire Fighters local union is sponsoring a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8 to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s restaurant. The proceeds of each $5 ticket will benefit the Project Lifesaver program, which is administered through the Suffolk Department of Fire and Rescue.

Project Lifesaver provides tracking bracelets, at no cost to the clients, for people with brain illnesses or injuries that give them a tendency to wander.

The fundraiser is especially important this year. The digital TV conversion means new equipment must be purchased because the program must switch frequencies, said Pam King, a fire investigator and coordinator of the Suffolk program.

“We have been blessed with a couple of grants to cover bulk equipment,” King said. “Saturday, we’re hopefully going to try to buy frequencies and batteries.”

The program purchases tracking bracelets for patients, pagers for their caregivers, and tracking equipment for the fire and police departments to use to locate lost patients. When a patient goes missing, the caregiver can activate the pager and alert the fire and police departments, which then use the specialized equipment to home in on the location of the transmitter bracelet.

“It’s just a really, really neat program,” King said. Patients have been found as quickly as eight minutes after a search began, she said; the average is about 22 minutes.

Patients of any age who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism, brain trauma, or any other condition that gives them a tendency to wander are eligible for the program. It’s not cheap, though. For each patient, Project Lifesaver provides a transmitter bracelet, pager, batteries, and a $275 frequency at no cost to the patient or the family.

“The proceeds help us buy the equipment that’s going to make this transfer,” King said. “Without the funds, we’re not going to be able to make the transfer across the board.”

The program is an important part of the lives of people living with these conditions and their families, King said.

“I understand the necessity and the peace of mind it would provide,” King said.

The pancake breakfast will be held at Applebee’s on North Main Street in Suffolk on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. The menu includes pancakes, sausage and a beverage for $5 per person.

eta: sounds like a great fundraising idea :)

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http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/llnews.aspx?articleID=11657&bnpg=0

Program to assist in finding missing persons


2/7/2009

By JASON WITZ
Staff Writer

It's happened before.

A resident with Alzheimer's Disease wanders from his home, into the miles of woods in Charlotte County.

Confused, he walks deeper into the unknown, oblivious to the dangers.

In the future, a transmitter bracelet could help authorities locate the person before it's too late.

Members of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office completed training last week for a new program intended to track patients with Alzheimer's, autism and dementia, should they disappear.

"Project Lifesaver," founded in 1999, is used by law enforcement agencies in 43 states.

Since its inception, all persons who went missing were found within one hour, according to Cpl. Philip Schofield, Project Lifesaver coordinator for the Sheriff's Office.

Currently, the average search for a missing person in Charlotte County lasts nine hours.

"Without this equipment, the chances of finding someone can be like (finding) a needle in a haystack," Schofield said.

Eligible patients will pay a one-time $300 fee for the bracelet, which emits a unique frequency, as long as the batteries are replaced monthly. The Sheriff's Office has 18 bracelets available.

In the event someone wanders off, Schofield said a tracking unit will drive around with a special antenna capable of pinpointing the frequency, which would sound like a chirp. The closer the person is, the louder the chirp would be, he said.

The antenna has a range up to 1 mile.

Schofield said the Sheriff's Office will implement the program soon, as each prospective patient will have to undergo a medical evaluation.

For more information, contact Schofield at 941-764-1533, or visit the Sheriff's Office annex at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall.

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http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2009/02/off_mental_track_and_off_the_road_lojack_is_ready_ to_help.html

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Off Mental Track and Off the Road? LoJack Is Ready to Help

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/projectlifesaver.jpg

LoJack, the company known for devices that help police find stolen cars, is extending its technology to finding wandering humans. With the release of SafetyNet, caretakers of people with Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, and other diseases, can be sure that no one will walk off into the sunset never to be seen again. LoJack says that it provides government agencies with specialized receivers and antennas that can be activated to locate a missing person wearing the company's ankle or wrist bracelet.

(more at link)

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http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/021109_web_pilotclub.html

Seeking The Lost
Officials say program will help with missing persons cases

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

In just 20 minutes, a Virginia deputy sheriff, trained and equipped in the Project Lifesaver program, was able to locate a 45 year-old man — suffering from a traumatic brain injury — after he vanished from his home.

Now, Harrison County and Marshall Pilot Club officials are looking to implement the program locally to help search for and locate missing persons in the area.

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/03/77/51/image_8451773.jpg
Victoria County Sheriff's Office Deputy Susan Riedesel demonstrates how to fit an armband used to locate missing persons at a Project Lifesaver training session.

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The receiver used by law enforcement to track down missing persons.

On Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Victoria Deputy County Sheriff officials were on hand at the Texas State Technical College campus in Marshall, providing training for Harrison County Sheriff officers on how to use Project Lifesaver tracking equipment.

Marshall Pilot Club member Anne Yappen, who also works as a facilitator for an Alzheimer support group, said the club attained most of the $10,000 needed for the purchase of the tracking equipment through a grant, but raised the rest during a fund-raiser.

"I really saw the need, so when we realized this was something we could do, we started working on it," said Ms. Yappen. "You see all the time in the news where people wander off and get lost."

Training, which was in room 430 near the school's library, also will be offered on Wednesday and Thursday at TSTC.

The lifesaver program aims to form partnerships with local law enforcement and public safety organizations and deploys specially trained teams with tracking technology to locate and return wandering adults and children to their families and caregivers.

It's geared toward finding missing persons suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, autism and other brain-related disorders.

"It's been quite informative. I've learned a lot about the equipment. I like what I see so far," said Harrison County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Best, who works in the canine unit. Best and Harrison County Deputy Sheriff Jay Webb were at the training session Tuesday. "With the success rate the Project Lifesaver has, it'll be a great tool for us to utilize to locate missing people," he said.

Victoria County Sheriff's Office Deputy Susan Riedesel said clients involved in the program will wear a wristband or transmitter that emits a tracking signal and trained officers in the program will have receivers to locate them if they go missing.

Officials involved in the Project Lifesaver program have reported no serious injuries or deaths in more than 1,500 searches and recovery times have averaged to less than 30 minutes, according to the program's Web site.

In the past, Victoria Sheriff's Office deputies have offered additional training to officers in Nacogdoches, Palestine, Rusk and Lubbock counties as well as in Tyler and Fort Worth. They soon will go to Lufkin to train officers there.

At the moment, the Victoria County Sheriff's Office is the only agency in Texas qualified to train other Texas law agencies because it received state training at the Project Lifesaver headquarters in Virginia.

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http://www.wickedlocal.com/westwood/news/business/x426329259/LoJack-is-tracking-people-now-too

LoJack is tracking people now, too

Tue Feb 17, 2009, 11:03 AM EST

Westwood - In recent years, LoJack Corp. has broadened its tracking expertise beyond stolen cars to include construction equipment and motorcycles.

Now, the Westwood company is homing in on a new market: tracking people.
LoJack has been selling products made to track and rescue people at risk of wandering, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome and dementia since it bought the assets of Locator Systems in April for $1 million.

This week, LoJack unveiled a marketing push to expand the reach of the Locator Systems person-tracking system, which LoJack has branded “SafetyNet.”

LoJack plans to donate tracking equipment to about 200 law enforcement agencies within the next 12 months, potentially increasing the number of agencies using the person-tracking system from 900 to 1,100 by the end of the year.

Clients wear a “personal locator beacon” on a wristband that transmits signals to a receiver used by local police or a sheriff’s office. The radio frequency signals can be used to pinpoint the location of a missing person using a handheld receiver within one mile of the wristband on the ground and at least five miles from a helicopter.

Paul McMahon, LoJack’s director of communications, said the company had been considering diversifying into this business before the purchase of Locator Systems. The acquisition of the Canadian company just accelerated that plan, he said.

“It was really an efficient way to get into the market,” McMahon said. “Auto is never going to disappear as an important part of our business, but there are so many opportunities to expand what we do.”

McMahon said the company is launching a multimedia ad campaign to publicize the devices.
LoJack is asking SafetyNet clients to pay an initial enrollment fee of $99 and a recurring $30 monthly service fee. People who need financial aid can seek grants or hold fundraisers, according to a spokeswoman for Project Lifesaver International, the Virginia nonprofit that coordinates sales of the devices and training with law enforcement agencies.

Project Lifesaver spokeswoman Amber Whittaker said LoJack’s donation of equipment will reduce the costs for law enforcement agencies to join her organization’s program to $3,000 from more than $7,000.

Whittaker said LoJack’s involvement will also help the rollout of the people-tracking devices because of the company’s brand name recognition and its current relationships with law enforcement officials.

“LoJack has a reputation for many years with the law enforcement community,” she said. “That will be able to carry the program even further.”

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http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/02/17/lake_life/lakelife04.txt

Project Lifesaver now in Cayuga County
By Janet Taylor

Monday, February 16, 2009 11:01 PM EST

In Chatham,Va., an 80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's Disease wandered from her home at night. The family called the sheriff and two vehicles arrived on the scene. After a short time, they located the woman lying in a tobacco field. She had wandered into the field, fell and could not get up. She was found covered with mud. Rescuers reported that anyone standing up to 10 feet away would not have noticed that a person was laying there. The helpless woman would have died if the search had taken much longer.
What was attributed to the success of this rescue?

The family had enrolled the woman in the local sheriff's Project Lifesaver Program, and she was wearing a wristband transmitter at the time of her disappearance. Through this program, the rescuers had the necessary radio frequency equipment to be able to track the signal and locate her quickly. As you can imagine, the family was very relieved by this outcome and thankful that they were so proactive in enrolling her.

This is good news. Even better news is that the Project Lifesaver Program is now up and running in Cayuga County. The Project Lifesaver program is made possible through a partnership between the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and the Cayuga County Office for the Aging and by a donation from the Stardust Foundation.

Project Lifesaver was established in 1999 as an international non-profit organization that provides the program to local partnerships with law enforcement and public service agencies. Nationally, the program has had 1,400 successful rescues. The Project Lifesaver program has been frequently featured on national news programs such as CNN and the CBS Early Show, various magazines and newspapers and on TV shows such as “Extreme Makeover-Home Edition” and “Without a Trace.”

It has been reported that the radio frequency technology is better than GPS tracking systems. This is because GPC is affected by possible obstacles in the environment, so it is not as reliable. Wrist worn identification bracelets do not have the means to actually locate the person, only to identify them once they are found by some other means.

To be eligible for Project Lifesaver Program, the disabled individual must be receptive to wearing the transmitter bracelet and there must be a caregiver that lives with the person who is able to check the battery every day and be there to call 911 if the client is discovered missing. The transmitter contains a battery that has to be changed once a month. The Cayuga County Office for the Aging will be responsible for the set-up and monitoring of the program and changing the battery every month.

The person wears a permanent wristband that sends out its own unique tracking signal.

When caregivers call the sheriff that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds and searches the area with a mobile locator tracking system. The signal can be tracked on the ground or in the air. Search times average about 30 minutes as opposed to hours or days.

The Cayuga County Sheriffs Department has an arrangement with the Onondaga County Sheriff's helicopter, which is equipped with the radio frequency tracking device. The helicopter can be dispatched to Cayuga County to aid in the search, if needed. Onondaga County also offers the Project Livesaver Program.

Members of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department are specially trained in the use of the electronic tracking equipment and also in the methods of communicating with a person with specials needs. Most likely, a person who is lost will be disoriented and anxious. Once the individual is located, the team knows how to approach the person, gain their trust and put them at ease so that they can get them back home safely.

For more information on the details of Project Lifesaver, please call the Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 253-1226. Project Lifesaver is a proven program designed to put an end to the possible tragedies of a missing and wandering person. It brings peace of mind to caregivers and families.

Janet Taylor is an Aging Services Specialist with the Cayuga County Office for the Aging

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Project Lifesaver can help special needs patients

Posted: Feb 18, 2009 04:42 PM EST

SARASOTA COUNTY - North Port is participating in a program that could save the lives of those with Alzheimer's, autism or other special needs.

The North Port Police Department, in conjunction with the Sarasota Police Department, is part of Project Lifesaver. It's a program for those who tend to wander away from their caregivers.

Those enrolled wear a personalized transmitter bracelet 24 hours a day. The bracelet is waterproof, works in all weather conditions and emits a tracking signal unique to each bracelet.

When caregivers notify 911 that the person is missing, North Port Police officers will contact trackers from the Sarasota Police Department, who will respond to the missing person's last known location and start searching.

The program is available to all residents of Sarasota County.

If you would like to enroll in the Project Lifesaver program or need more information, call 954-7056.



http://www.wwsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=9866952

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http://www.wickedlocal.com/westford/news/x598676767/-Project-Lifesaver-tracks-autistic-children

‘Project Lifesaver’ tracks autistic children

By Stephen Vittorioso / Staff Writer
Fri Feb 20, 2009, 02:46 PM EST

Westford - Annie McDonough’s 10-year-old autistic son Ryan went missing Feb. 2 after escaping from his Abbot School classroom. After a 10-minute, police found the boy in a nearby parking lot.

Linda Cox’s 9-year-old autistic son Brett, a student at Nashoba Learning Group in Bedford, is curious. She said he often wanders and she worries because he has life-threatening food allergies.

“He’s non-verbal and fast,” Cox said. “He can’t tell somebody when something’s wrong. What we have to do is advocate for our boys.”

Teaming up with Capt. Victor Neal of the Westford Police Department and William Knight of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, the mothers and law enforcement officials are preparing to start implementing Project Lifesaver, a public safety program that helps locate missing persons suffering from dementia-type disorders.

“It’s a wonderful program because it’s going to prevent tragedy,” McDonough said. “The problem is that these kids are waiting for the opportunity to get away from supervision.”

On March 5 and 6, 12 officers will train on the wrist-watch style tracking devices that can locate in 30 minutes or less missing people with autism, Alzheimer’s or Down syndrome. After holding an informational session in August, police hope to use the devices starting in the spring.

“We’d be the first town in Middlesex County to have it,” Neal said. “We thought it would be a good fit. It might make Westford more appealing for some who have a special needs person.”

The device emits a tracking signal from personalized radio transmitter wristbands. If those wearing the bands go missing, local search-and-rescue teams are then dispatched to recover them.

Westford police have raised more than $12,000 to implement the Chesapeake, Va. Sheriff Office’s initiative, which has been used in more than 700 agencies in 42 states and Canada. Since its inception in 1999, the program has helped rescues thousands.

“It just gives us a lot of peace,” Cox said. “There are so many times when these kids are vulnerable.”

The program, which has been endorsed by the National Sheriff’s Association, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, also gives peace to the Westford Council on Aging, according to elder services officials.

“We thought this is a fantastic opportunity,” said Director of Elder Services Joanne Sheehan. “We certainly have a lot of people who will take advantage of it. I think it’s pretty cutting-edge stuff.”

Judy Ramirez, town social worker, said Massachusetts is home to 120,000 autistic individuals. About 25,000, or 21 percent, live in Middlesex County.

Seven Westford families, including the Coxs and McDonoughs, are interested in the devices and police believe that number will increase once the program begins.

McDonough and Cox both said they are looking forward to using the devices.

“I’m going to be able to sleep a little better,” McDonough said.

For more information, visit www.projectlifesaver.org. Donations can be made to Project Lifesaver c/o Westford Police Department, 53 Main St., Westford, MA 01886.

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http://zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20090220/UPDATES01/90220022/1002/NEWS01

Saving a life

By HOLLY RICHARDS • Staff Writer • February 20, 2009

ZANESVILLE — Having a five-year-old autistic grandson with a tendency to wander has been a challenge for Kathy Angles and Ruth Wolf, but they may have found an answer.

They attended a special informational session tonight at Coburn United Methodist Church to learn more about how to possibly save their loved one’s life.

Project Lifesaver has been in place in Muskingum County for the past four years. The program, administered through the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department, helps track those with dementia, autism or similar diseases through an FM radio transmitter.

The transmitting FM battery is placed in a waterproof, hospital-like wristband, and each client gets his or her own frequency that will not interfere with normal radio transmission.

“If the patient wanders off, the person’s caregiver can call the sheriff’s office,” said Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Steve Blake. “We have six deputies who are trained to use the technology to search for them. The range (of the wristband transmitter) is about a mile. Without this, a search would consume a lot of time and man power; sometimes we use dogs and aircraft as well. This is more efficient in that we can find someone in a matter of 20 or 30 minutes.”

About five clients are currently using Project Lifesaver in the county, but Blake said they haven’t been called to find any missing clients since the program’s inception.

“We’re just trying to raise public awareness,” he said. “We’ve gotten good feedback. It gives clients and caregivers peace of mind.’”

Participants can be any age and are involved on a voluntary basis. They are required to have a medical diagnosis of dementia, be a resident of Muskingum County and have a 24/7 caregiver. The cost is $10 a month, which covers the cost of the battery. A trained sheriff’s deputy will stop by to change the battery and check on the client every 30 days.

During Blake’s presentation to a few community members, he demonstrated how the FM transmission works by trying to locate a hidden battery.

Angles and Wolf were pleased they attended, and planned on signing their grandson up for the program.

“This is an excellent idea,” Wolf said. “I think it works well whether its with someone with Alzheimer’s or an autistic child, and it’s a minimal expense."

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http://www.gastongazette.com/news/sheriff_30848___article.html/project_lifesaver.html

Project Lifesaver helping reunite lost and confused
patients with caregivers

February 21, 2009 - 4:31 PM
Diane Turbyfill

Project Lifesaver will help reunite lost and confused patients with their caregivers faster and more efficiently, Lt. Darren Ledford of Gaston Emergency Medical Services said.

"Time and weather are going to destroy clues. We want to get out there as soon as possible and find those clues," Ledford said.

The tracking system uses radio frequencies to locate the lost person.

The Gaston County Sheriff's Office partnered with the Pilot Club of Gastonia, Gaston County Department of Social Services and Gaston Emergency Medical Services to purchase 10 wrist transmitters.

The bracelets resemble hospital bands with watch-like attachments and are placed around the wrists of the afflicted individual.

http://images.onset.freedom.com/gaston/medium/kffqgm-kffqe9tnlifesaver2.jpg
Luvina Glover, president of the Pilot Club of Gastonia, shows off a bracelet that will be used in Project Lifesaver.

If one of the recipients goes missing, caregivers can call 911. Search and rescue teams will use a hand-held antenna that chirps when the missing person comes into range.

If used on the ground, the tracking system can locate a person up to a mile away. In a helicopter, the device can reach 7 miles.

http://images.onset.freedom.com/gaston/medium/kffqgn-kffqeetnlifesaver1.jpg
Capt. D. Griffin and the Gastonia Pilot Club President Luvina Glover demonstrate the new Lifesaver system to be rolled out to help keep track of habitual wanderers like some autistic children and those afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease.

Bracelets cost $300 and an additional $80 each year for maintenance. Initial implementation of the program came with a price tag of $10,000. All of the money was raised through grants and donations, Sheriff Alan Cloninger said.

The program will continue to operate off of donations rather than city or county money, said Cloninger.

The Sheriff's Office and Pilot Club are signing up the first 10 people for Project Lifesaver. If additional donations allow, more transmitters will be purchased.

Anyone who wants to purchase a band can be included in the program, Cloninger said.

Sheriff's officers trained this week on how to use the equipment. Catawba County sheriff's officers led training. That department has been using Project Lifesaver for four years. In each instance officers have used the transmitters, the lost person has been found within 30 minutes.

The need for Project Lifesaver should increase as Baby Boomers become senior citizens, said Luvina Glover, president of the Pilot Club of Gastonia.

"We feel that there is a need for this because we're going to be encountering more and more of these wanderers as time goes by," said Glover.

To enroll in Project Lifesaver or to make donations, e-mail projectlifesavergaston@mindspring.com or call 704-867-9820.

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Project Lifesaver designed to help elderly

Livesaver Bracelet Program Working

2/28/09

Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - It's helped the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department find nearly 50 missing people, but they say there are more people out there that should be using the Project Lifesaver program.

Ruth Boshart's husband uses the bracelet and she says, "I knew that the minute he disappeared that all I had to do was call 911 and they would put the program into effect and they would get a roll on everything and have him back home."

Warren Darby, Onondaga County's undersheriff echos Boshart, saying "In upstate New York, there are many months that have such a small window because of weather to find the person in a timely fashion and this allows us to do it."

Cayuga County's Office of Aging has just started up the same program for the elderly. The cost of the bracelet is $300, with a montly fee of $10.

The electronic techonlogy uses a braclet and tracking machine to find missing persons suffering from dementia-type disorders. Onondaga County has had the program for the last two years, but the Sheriff's Department is looking for more people to join, especially since so many other surrounding counties are picking up the program.

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Project-Lifesaver-designed-to-help-elderly/5ygQKGdTDE-hAnlvP2aXHA.cspx

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http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=16&a=388161

Welti backs expansion of Project Lifesaver

3/3/2009 9:55:42 AM
By Heather J. Carlson
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

ST. PAUL -- It is a parent's worst nightmare. The child wanders out of the house and disappears, leading to a panicked search. It's compounded when the child is autistic.

When Rochester resident Brad Trahan heard news reports about just such a tragedy, he wondered what his autistic son Reece would do if he opened the front door on a chilly day. His barefoot son did not hesitate.

"He went right outside. It didn't faze him a bit," Trahan said.

http://news.postbulletin.com/imagegallery/gallery/Post-Bulletin_photos/News/tn/mini-hqepgj1sqmywdr33200992047.jpg
Brad Trahan with son Reece

But the Rochester dad has found some comfort -- thanks to a white wristband worn by his son at all times. This radio-wave emitting bracelet can be used by law enforcement to track down Reece, if the boy ever takes off. Known as "Project Lifesaver," the program got its start in Olmsted County in April 2007 after the RT Autism Foundation -- founded by Trahan and his wife Joanie -- raised $15,000 to help pay for the equipment and training. Now a local lawmaker is looking to expand the program statewide.

Rep. Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, is sponsoring a bill that would set up a statewide lifesaver grant program to help local law enforcement agencies with start-up costs. It would also establish a statewide task force charged with coordinating the lifesaver program, making sure counties and cities use compatible equipment. The program can be used not only for people with autism, but also individuals with Down Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease or other medical conditions than can cause them to wander off. The bill gets its first hearing today before a House committee.

Welti said investing in this type of technology can save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars spent on massive search efforts.

"Instead of finding someone dead, we can find someone alive within minutes rather than hours or days," he said.

Trahan, who approached Welti about the bill, estimates it would cost $240,000 to set up the Lifesaver program statewide. He notes that it is less than the $300,000 spent last summer on a weeklong search to find an autistic Minnesota man, who wandered away from a camp in Grantsburg, Wis.

Given the state's dire financial situation, Welti said he is not expecting to get any state funding this year, but he is looking ahead to future years.

Statewide, eight counties -- including Olmsted and Winona -- and the city of New Brighton are using the bracelets. In Olmsted County, 49 individuals are participating in the program, according to Deputy Jonathan Jacobson, Olmsted County's Project Lifesaver coordinator.

The initial cost of the bracelet is $405, although grants are available to help cover the cost. So far, the county's Project Lifesaver team has been called out eight times, but the missing person was found before the equipment was used. Each bracelet emits a radio signal that can be tracked up to one mile on land and 10 miles by air, Trahan said.

The Minnesota Sheriffs Association's Executive Director James Franklin said Project Lifesaver is a great program, but paying for it in these tough budget times is a concern.

"Tools are great, but along with that comes the steady maintenance and care of that equipment and training," Franklin said. "And the question is, in this day and age, given the fiscal issues we're facing, is there going to be money to do that?"

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Project Lifesaver demonstrates tracking program

POSTED: April 21, 2009

VIENNA - Area officials got a demonstration Monday of a system that helps track people who might wander from home.

State legislators, county commissioners, area police officers and others got a demonstration of the Project Lifesaver system, which has been in use in the county for a couple of years.

''We wanted to show how important this program is and how it has proven itself,'' said Wood County Sheriff Jeff Sandy. ''We wanted to bring everyone together to expand this project and bring other assets in to help save lives.''

The program deals with proactive involvement and specialized operations that responds to incidents of individuals with cognitive disabilities, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury and others who tend to wander, become confused and cannot find their way back home, said Capt. Mark King of the Wood County Sheriff's Department and the state coordinator for Project Lifesaver.

''Project Lifesaver is electronic search and rescue,'' King said.

The project uses transmitters embedded in bracelets that emit an FM signal every second. These transmitters are put on people who might wander off and law enforcement agencies can track and locate the missing person, usually within an half-hour of being reported gone.

''The effective range of this tracking equipment is one mile from the ground and has a five to seven mile range from the air,'' King said.

To illustrate its effectiveness, volunteer Carroll Ayers planted one transmitter in one location and took another with him to allow himself to be tracked by King from the Wood County Sheriff's Department's helicopter , keeping in contact with all of the officials who were listening to the progress of the search from the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department via radio.

King tracked the first transmitter to the area around the West Virginia Masonic Home within 11 minutes of beginning the search and then tracked Ayers in his car to a church on 57th Street within 18 minutes of starting the search. Sandy remained in contact with Ayers on a cell phone and confirmed the location of the first transmitter and where he was with the second transmitter.

In a real search, the crew in the air unit would be in contact with ground units who would be able to move in and find the person, officials said.

King and project administrator Sue Patalano help provide training for other counties that have signed up for the program.

The project is in more than 900 agencies throughout 45 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and Australia. West Virginia became the 42nd state in June 2005. It is in 20 West Virginia counties.

Nationally, the program has had more than 1,901 searches since April 1999 with no serious injuries or fatalities. There were five rescues conducted in West Virginia.

King said rescues of Alzheimer's patients took around nine hours in the 1990s, cost around $1,500 an hour and not all those rescues were successful.

''It could cost up to $13,500 (using 1990s figures),'' King said. ''I am sure it would be more expensive now.''

The cost to start Project Lifesaver in West Virginia is around $10,000.

''With just one rescue, it can pay for itself,'' King said.

There is a $10 monthly fee for clients, Patalano said.

''If they can't afford this maintenance fee, we will work to get sponsors to cover it,'' she said. ''We are interested in saving lives with this program.''

Patalano said rescuers have to be familiar with each person's situation so they can communicate and understand how these people are seeing and reacting to the world around them as some people are literally living during a time in their own past.

After viewing the demonstration, Delegate Dan Poling, D-Wood, said he would like to see the program in every county in the state.

''The response time is so quick,'' he said. ''If you can save one life, it is worth the cost of $10,000 to each county.

''That is a good deal, compared to the cost of one life. What the people are doing here in Wood County is an example to what we should be doing statewide.''

http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/516739.html?nav=5061

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Paden City Man Found Quickly

POSTED: July 15, 2009

Project Lifesaver, a rapid response program, was put to use in Paden City on July 9. According to Sergeant Dave Byers of the New Martinsville Police Department, the police department received a call around 7:15 p.m. that a 73-year-old male with Alzheimer's who was missing. Byers responded with his tracking equipment at 7:29 p.m and the elderly person was located by 7:37 p.m. in Paden City. This person did have one of the locator bracelet on through the Project Lifesaver, which resulted in the quick response and location.

This mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide rapid response to save lives and reduce a potential for serious injury for adults and children who have Alzheimer's, Down Syndrome, Autism, dementia, and other related disorders.

A bracelet is worn by the individuals all the time. They send out a signal to those trying to locate them if they become lost. They can be detected one mile away on the ground. This cuts down on hours of search time along with people needed to do a team search of an area.

The Project LifeSaver provides equipment, training, and certification to support the law enforcement and public safety organizations which operates the program in their communities.

Byers also stated that Patrolman Friend Estep responded along with Tyler County Office of Emergency Management Director Tom Cooper, and Don Collins.

Project Lifesaver can be done by the air with helicopters. "We have a five- to seven-mile range up in the air," stated Byers, who is also a Helicopter Service Specialist with this program.

There are currently 22 counties in West Virginia that now have the Project Lifesaver, according to Byers.

If anyone is interested in this rapid response program or want more information, contact Sergeant Dave Byers at the New Martinsville Police Department by calling (304) 455-9100.


http://www.wetzelchronicle.com/page/content.detail/id/501385/Paden-City-Man-Found-Quickly.html?nav=5001

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Lifesaver bracelet saves missing man
Rescuers in Portsmouth use tech to locate man

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009, 7:40 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 10 Nov 2009, 4:54 PM EST

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI) - A man with special needs went missing in Portsmouth , not once, but twice in just days. But thanks to a tracking bracelet, rescue crews are able to find him in a matter of minutes the second time around.

When rescuers got the call for a missing person Monday night, it seemed like Friday all over again.

But this time, they had some high-tech help with their search.

Eyewitness news cameras rolled exclusively as 21-year old Ryan Stevens was rescued after a massive life or death search in freezing temperatures Friday night.

Chief Jeffrey Lynch, from the Portsmouth Fire Department says, "We expended over three and a half hours searching for this individual and we had nine separate entities involved in the search between police and fire departments."

After Stevens was released from the hospital, the fire department gave the special needs man a Project Lifesaver bracelet.

That technology paid off when Stevens went missing again Monday night.

The small transmitter emits a signal every minute, giving rescuers the ability to track the person quickly.

In the past three years, three Portsmouth searches ended in the missing person's death. Chief Lynch thinks project lifesaver is a tool that could have helped.

Monday night's rescue was the first time the technology's been used in the state, West Warwick and Smithfield are also starting Project Lifesaver programs.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/local_wpri_portsmouth_lifesaver_bracelet_used_to_f ind_a_speical_needs_man_in_portsmouth_20091110_las

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Project Lifesaver International Recognizes Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Project Lifesaver International, a non-profit organization specializing in training public safety agencies on search and rescue programs to help individuals with cognitive conditions, recognizes November as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

Nov 20, 2009 – According to the National Institutes of Health as many as 2.4 to 4.5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s disease - an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and intellectual function. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 60% of those with Alzheimer’s will wander at some point during the progression of the disease – many of them, repeatedly. Over a period of years, the disease leads to the loss of cognitive function and a long period of dependency. Advancing age is the greatest risk factor for the disease - the incidence doubles every 5 years after age 65. The number of people age 65 and older in the United States is projected to double to 72 million by 2030, and the incidence of Alzheimer’s is expected to rise significantly as the nation’s population ages and life expectancies lengthen.

To help combat the issue of wandering, Project Lifesaver helps train public safety agencies to conduct search and rescue efforts by using state-of-the-art technology to find missing persons who wander, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These efforts have drastically reduced search times, and they have helped find loved ones quicker and easier with an average search time of 30 minutes or less. Project Lifesaver agencies have rescued over 2,000 cognitively challenged individuals successfully with no serious injuries or deaths reported. In addition to Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Project Lifesaver would also like to recognize National Family Caregivers Month and thank caregivers for all they do for others.

Project Lifesaver Rescues This Month Involving Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease

Wayne Township Fire Department, Indiana
A 79-year old man with Alzheimer’s disease went missing on October 31 in Indianapolis. It was unknown how long the man had been missing, but rescue teams detected the clients’ signal and began following it using the search equipment. The man was located approximately 3 blocks away in good condition.

Cape May County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey
On November 3, an 85-year old female with Alzheimer’s disease disappeared in the evening. The woman was located 26 minutes following the time Project Lifesaver teams arrived on scene. Using search and rescue equipment, the officers were able to locate the woman quickly and in good condition.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia
On November 8, a 72-year old man with Alzheimer’s disease went missing. Specially trained Project Lifesaver search and rescue teams began searching. The subject was located twelve miles from the point last seen and returned home safely with no injuries.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing and serious responsibility. This month, Project Lifesaver encourages all organizations, businesses, and individuals to educate themselves on Alzheimer’s disease and discover ways you can help bring awareness and support to your communities. More information can be found at www.projectlifesaver.org.

About Project Lifesaver International

Established in 1999, Project Lifesaver International is a non-profit organization that is committed to helping families quickly find their loved ones who wander because of Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, dementia, autism, and other related disorders. Headquartered in Chesapeake, Va., Project Lifesaver works with local law enforcement agencies in more than 1,000 communities in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Canada to protect some of society's most vulnerable citizens.

http://www.prlog.org/10422031-project-lifesaver-international-recognizes-alzheimers-awareness-month.html

[look4u]

DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION
2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294 240-773-5030


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
December 17, 2009 Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Project Lifesaver Successfully Locates
Missing Woman in Ashton


Last night, 4th District patrol officers responded to the 13900 block of Blair Stone Lane in Silver Spring for the report of a 78-year-old missing woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The missing woman is also a client of the Montgomery County Police Project Lifesaver program.

The 78-year-old woman was grocery shopping at the Leisure World Plaza with her husband. The couple experienced car trouble and took a cab home. They retrieved their second car and returned to the shopping center to jump-start the first car. The first car started and then the husband had his wife follow him home in the second car. At the intersection of Bel Pre Road and Rippling Drive, the wife got separated from her husband. The husband attempted to find his wife, but could not. He then returned home and called for police assistance.

The call came into the Emergency Communications Center at 5:39 p.m. The responding officer learned that the missing woman was a Project Lifesaver client and an officer with a Project Lifesaver tracking unit was notified to respond and begin a search. A second officer with a Project Lifesaver tracking unit was also deployed a short time later.

The second Project Lifesaver tracking unit soon received a “hit.” A “hit” is when the tracking unit alerts to a signal emitted from that the wristwatch sized transmitter that the client wears. This “hit” was near Route 108 and Hidden Garden Lane. Based on the location of the “hit,” assisting officers re-focused their efforts to the area around Ashton.

Approximately 39 minutes after the first Project Lifesaver tracking unit was activated, officers located the missing woman unharmed and safe in a parking lot on Route 108 and New Hampshire Avenue.

This was the Department’s first time successfully finding a missing Project Lifesaver client driving a motor vehicle. All previous missing clients have been tracked while they were on foot.

For more information about the Project Lifesaver Program, please contact Officer Laurie Reyes, Coordinator for the Montgomery County Police Project Lifesaver Program at 301-840-2788.
Information is also available on their webpage at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/projectlifesaver.com.link not working at this time

If we could get this to all of the endangered people, I would support it.

[LiveLaughLuv]

:hifive:

Great news...Thank You....:0012:

[Roamer]

Thank you, Project Lifesaver!

[AmyE]

WOW! That is great news.

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this would be a good story to add to the Project Lifesaver thread.

[look4u]

this would be a good story to add to the Project Lifesaver thread.

Please move this thread, I looked but didn't come across that thread I've found it now . I guess I should have looked more :hide:

[Roamer]

Threads have been merged.

[look4u]

Threads have been merged.

well at least you did not hit me with the bat
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g258/PatC_pics/smilies/why_you-you.gif

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well at least you did not hit me with the bat
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g258/PatC_pics/smilies/why_you-you.gif

Great story Look. I wish more people were aware of this device. :(

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Smithfield police joins LoJack’s SafetyNet program to help find wanderers

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 24, 2009

http://www.projo.com/photos/20091224/ri1224_lojack_1_12-24-09_6SGT9BT.jpg
Smithfield Firefighter Eric Cote demonstrates the LoJack SafetyNet device that can be used to locate someone who is wearing a transmitter.

SMITHFIELD — Consider it a LoJack for people.

The company that established itself by finding cars taken by thieves is now turning its attention toward finding people who wander because of disabilities that affect their mental functions. And the Smithfield Police Department is the latest community to sign on for the project.

“It’s going to help us because it narrows down the search,” said police Capt. Robert W. VanNieuwenhuyze. “It doesn’t mean if we’re using the equipment, all we’re going to use is the equipment until we find them. After an hour, if we’re unsuccessful with the equipment, we’ll call in a full-blown search like we would in any other instance. The equipment is a tool to bring people home quickly and safely.”

The device, called LoJack SafetyNet, uses the same radio frequency technology the company uses to find cars to locate people who have wandered away from homes or care facilities, said John Paul Marosy, general manager of LoJack SafetyNet. Instead of hiding the tracking device in a car chassis, the client wears a bracelet or anklet — similar to a hospital band — that safety officials can track from a mile away on the ground. A trained representative from the Smithfield Senior Center will come to the client’s home monthly and change the battery.

“It’s growing as a community effort,” Marosy said. “It’s beautiful to see how public safety and service agencies are working together to serve the public.”

The company teams with Project Lifesaver, a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce the amount of time it takes to find adults and children who have wandered away from their homes because of cognitive disabilities.

“They have what we think is the most reliable technology in the field and we wanted to give the most reliable technology to those at risk,” said Christine Platz, director of programs and media at Project Lifesaver in Chesapeake, Va. The receivers use radio frequencies — not satellites (like GPS) — to locate the transmitters. The technology allows rescuers to pinpoint transmitter locations precisely, even through concrete walls.

Firefighter Eric Cote stands in the middle of the Police Department parking lot. Somewhere between the snowbanks, and the rows of cars, a receptor is hidden. And he has to find it.

Cote points the receiver, which looks like the sort of TV antennas that used to perch atop suburban roofs, and listens for a beep. A steady tone emerges from the device. The tone tells officers when they are going in the right direction, Cote said. If they are walking away from the transmitter’s location, the beep disappears. In that case, the searcher can slowly scan the area, with the device on the highest frequency, to pick up the signal again.

Within five minutes, Cote locates the small white receiver, hidden inside of a sedan near a garage in the parking lot.

In the United States, the technology had been used in 2,050 rescues as of Dec. 15, according to the Project Lifesaver Web site www.projectlifesaver.org/default.aspx. Platz said the organization has a 100-percent success rate and has an average search time of 30 minutes.

“We’re hoping that [departments] all over will see it as a good program and valuable,” said Fire Chief Joseph Mollo III. “Then, it will start to proliferate all by itself.”

Forty-five states, Canada and Australia use the program. In Rhode Island, Portsmouth is the only other community to use the program. LoJack and Project Lifesaver give the receivers to public safety agencies for free. Residents can sign up for the program by visiting the Web site www.lojacksafetynet.com, or by calling 1-877-4-FIND-THEM. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $99, and a $30 monthly subscription fee for the transmitter the person wears.

Missing persons aren’t an everyday occurrence for the Smithfield Police Department, but there are 5 to 10 reports each year, said VanNieuwenhuyze. Using the equipment, VanNieuwenhuyze said, will hopefully allow officers to find missing people quicker.

Smithfield has 7 police officers and 25 members of the Fire Department trained to operate the equipment, and plans to schedule training sessions soon for both departments.

“Many times, with people that wander, due to their condition, time is of the essence,” VanNieuwenhuyze said. “You don’t know what kind of trouble they can get themselves into. … This is going to, hopefully, pick up the signal and narrow down quickly the person’s location without having to do the traditional search, which, a lot of times, involves more than one agency, a lot of manpower and equipment.”

Since Portsmouth signed on to the program in 2007, they have only used it once –– in November. But Police Chief Jeffrey Lynch said it made a difference.

On Nov. 6, a child with a cognitive disability was reported missing just before 8 p.m., Lynch said. It took rescue workers three hours to find the child, who wasn’t far from his home. Lynch said that officers spoke to the boy’s caregivers and encouraged them to sign up for Project Lifesaver. The boy enrolled and received his tracking bracelet the next day. When he wandered away from home again on Nov. 9, fire officials activated the receiver and found him, about a mile away, in 21 minutes.

“This was our first chance to use it in real life, and everyone was impressed by it,” he said. “I was very apprehensive at first because it’s a piece of electronics. When it actually worked in real life, I was very grateful.”

By his estimates, the first search with four police departments, five fire departments and the Portsmouth Emergency Management Association cost the town $5,200. The second search involved the Portsmouth police and fire departments for a grand total of $775.

“Chances are good he would have wandered farther, if we didn’t have the equipment to find him immediately,” Lynch said. “It paid for itself in one search.”

HOW IT WORKS

When a person is missing, the police or fire department logs onto the LoJack database and gets information on the person, including photographs, vital statistics and locations they’ve been known to frequent. The transmitters that clients wear emit inaudible radio frequencies which the agency is able to pick up with the search-and-rescue receiver.

Rescuers go to the point where the person was last seen, punch in the client’s ID code into the receiver and search the perimeter until the client’s signal appears. The sound that comes from the receiver becomes more high-pitched the closer the receiver is to the transmitter. The receiver has a mile radius on the ground and a five-mile range from a helicopter. The device is capable of precisely leading rescuers to where the missing person is located.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/ALZHEIMER_TRACKING_12-24-09_FKGKUU3_v16.353b910.html