How Project Lifesaver Works

Project Lifesaver relies on state-of-the-art technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. People who are part of the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized bracelet that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the local Project Lifesaver agency 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 over 200 searches, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths. Recovery times average less than 30 minutes.

The Project Lifesaver bracelet is much 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.

The Partnership with Law Enforcement

Project Lifesaver saves lives and further serves the community by significantly reducing the need for extensive search and rescue operations that are extremely costly in terms of human and financial resources. Searches for wandering individuals that have taken days and scores of searchers can be successfully concluded with Project Lifesaver in minutes. This saves the community substantial funds and resources which are usually needed for extensive searches of this kind.

The Need is Growing and so is Project Lifesaver

Project Lifesaver is at work in the following States and Countries

United States: Virginia Wisconsin Illinois North Carolina California Ohio Georgia New Jersey Alabama Vermont Washington New Mexico Florida New Hampshire Maryland Michigan South Carolina

Internationally: Canada* United Kingdom*

History Project Lifesaver was established in April 1999 as an initiative of the 43rd Virginia Search and Rescue Company of the Chesapeake, Virginia Sheriff's Office. Project Lifesaver is built on the work of the Stokes County Mountain Rescue program of North Carolina, which pioneered the use of special radio equipment to locate lost and wandering patients with mental disorders. Amid the dramatic increase of people with mental disorders including Alzheimer's, Down's syndrome, Autism and others, Project Lifesaver has become the lead organization in the nation to effectively address the need to protect these patients and bring comfort to their families and caregivers.

Funding Project Lifesaver depends upon the support of the community. Project Lifesaver's goal is to provide the benefits of the program to all in need regardless of their ability to pay. Funding for the organization comes from private donations and grants from government, corporations and charitable foundations. All contributions made to Project Lifesaver are tax deductible and are used directly for program operations including rescues, equipment and education.

Project Lifesaver ( http://www.projectlifesaver.org)