Project Lifesaver Rescues Five (5) in Less Than a Week

Warmer Weather Triggers Increased Wandering among those with Alzheimer's & Autism

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's that time of the year to be out and about, however, as the warmer months approach, caregivers who have loved ones with Alzheimer's, Autism, or any other cognitive condition need to be on alert because the rates for wandering increase during the warmer months.  Since the middle of February, the Project Lifesaver program has rescued more than sixty (60) individuals and just in the past week, we have successfully rescued another five (5) individuals that went wandering. These rescues took place all across North America; from British Colombia, to Virginia, and Florida. These statistics illustrate the importance of safety preparation as the summer months approach, wandering will increase and most wanderers will venture near water, increasing the risk of drowning.

Recently there have been a number of news reports across the nation of children with Autism that have wandered and either drowned or they were never recovered. Sadly, these tragedies were preventable, the right monitoring and recovery program along with reliable technology is the key to prevention. Project Lifesaver uses radio frequency technology, which is the tried and true technology of choice by law enforcement professionals for this specific type of search and rescue operation. Unlike cellular and GPS technology, a radio frequency signal does not rely on fragile cellular networks or satellite signals that are weather dependent. Radio frequency technology is reliable and can track an individual who wanders during adverse weather conditions, in water, in a densely wooded area, in a concrete or steel structure, or in a building. Also, Project Lifesaver trains and certifies every agency that joins our program and then recertifies them annually. We also teach our teams how to approach children or adults with cognitive disorders.  This is all part of our program, which is not about the profits, but rather serving our communities and raising awareness of the importance for safety and protection of our loved ones.

Project Lifesaver's teams are always on high alert. If there is ever a time when you suspect your loved one may have wandered off, please do not hesitate to make that call, because every minute counts in assuring a safe return for your loved one.  We ask everyone to please, if you have not registered your loved one into the program, call us at 561-847-7659 and we will help you find an agency near you.  

Furthermore, in our efforts to facilitate the program and continue to save lives and keep your loved one safe please take a moment to look at our new fundraising page at /projectlifesaver.org/Lifesaver/get-involved/donate-now/ to see how far a small contribution can go to protect or potentially save the life of your loved one. 

Project Lifesaver International is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that bridges the technological gap for at risk populations and public safety agencies by providing police, fire/rescue and other first responders with equipment and training to quickly locate and rescue individuals with cognitive disorders who are at constant risk to the life threatening behavior of wandering. 

SOURCE Project Lifesaver International