Project Lifesaver International Launches New 'Lifesaver Angels' Program

New "Lifesaver Angels" program enables an individual, business, or corporation to "adopt" a country, agency, or participant who wants to join Project Lifesaver

CHESAPEAKE, Va., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of a high-profile search and rescue operation of an 11-year-old girl with Asperger's syndrome in a swampy, alligator-infested area in Florida, Project Lifesaver was inundated with requests from parents who want to protect their children from wandering.  

In an effort to assist families and caregivers with their loved ones who wander, Project Lifesaver is launching a new "Lifesaver Angels" program which enables an individual, business, or corporation to "adopt" a participant, agency, or even a country who wants to participate in Project Lifesaver, but who could not, under normal circumstances, afford the program on their own.  

By becoming a Lifesaver Angel, individuals can help save the life of a person who may wander due to Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, or another cognitive condition. "Lifesaver Angels" was launched because the program directly correlates with the mission of Project Lifesaver - to reduce potential for serious injury for children who wander due to Alzheimer's disease, autism, Down syndrome, and other related conditions. 

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits a tracking signal. If an individual goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds.  To date, Project Lifesaver agencies have rescued over 2,100 people, in an average time of 30 minutes, with no serious injuries or fatalities ever reported.

The incidents are rising, and wandering is a growing problem that needs to be addressed.    In February of this year, an 81-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease from Cartierville in Canada was found frozen to death after she wandered out of her home wearing a nightgown.  Not long ago, a three-year-old boy with autism was found drowned in a creek near his home in Arkansas.  Also in February, an 88-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease was found dead after he wandered less than a block away from his East side home in Columbus, Ohio.   Unfortunately, today we learn about an 82-year-old man with Alzheimer's disease from Ellabell, Georgia, who wandered into a swamp and was found too late.  And the list goes on and on.

Project Lifesaver recognizes the growing need for this program, and there are many people and communities who desperately want to join the Project Lifesaver program but are facing serious financial barriers.  With your help, we can provide this service to every individual in every state in the country who needs this service, even though they may not be able to afford this service on their own.

For more information on how you can become a "Lifesaver Angel," please visit www.projectlifesaver.org and click on "Lifesaver Angels Program" under "Get Involved."  You can also e-mail Laura Glasscock, Director of Development, at [email protected].  

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 cognitive conditions. Project Lifesaver trains agencies on how to search for individuals who become lost by utilizing search and rescue techniques and equipment, as well as how to interact with individuals once they are found to help facilitate a safe escort home.  Project Lifesaver is also endorsed by many leading organizations in the country and recently received the 2010 Caregiver Friendly Award, in the service category, from Today's Caregiver Magazine and caregiver.com.  For more information, visit www.projectlifesaver.org. 

SOURCE Project Lifesaver International