(NORFOLK COUNTY, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Norfolk County Detachment would like to take this opportunity to remind all Norfolk County residents about Project Lifesaver after police investigate an incident at a Norfolk County, Ontario address.
On Friday, November, 28, 2014, at approximately 6:15 p.m., police received a call from a concerned member of the public after an 86 year old male went missing from their residence.
Through the course of investigation, it was determined that the missing male was a client of Project Lifesaver which allowed police the ability to track the male through the use of a bracelet that transmitted a signal. At approximately 6:28 p.m., the male was located and safely returned to his residence.
Project Lifesaver is geared to people that have dementia, Alzheimer’s, brain injuries as well as those with intellectual disabilities, such as autism, who may be prone to wandering.
A bracelet that transmits a radio signal can be detected by a tracking device that is worn by the person at risk of wandering. If that person goes missing, the use of tracking equipment seeks out the bracelets specific signal which enables the police to conduct an efficient and quick search.
The signal from the bracelet can be tracked approximately 1.6 km’s on foot with a hand held device or approximately 0.5 km’s with an antenna which is mounted on the roof of a cruiser. Each bracelet emits a radio wave signal every second which has an individual frequency.
“Project lifesaver allows victims suffering from Alzheimer’s and other related dementia’s to reside safely in their own homes. Should they wander off, Project Lifesaver allows families the comfort of knowing we will be able to search for their loved one efficiently and return them home in a timely manner,†comments Staff Sergeant Rick Tout, Support Manager for the Norfolk County OPP Detachment.
If any resident of Norfolk County would like further information on Project Lifesaver please contact Program Coordinator Michele Hough at Caressant Care Courtland at 519-688-0710.
