Project Lifesaver

Article submitted by Anonymous.
For more information call Sgt. Mike Randall, Fairhope Police Department, 251-929-1453, or Christy Kelly, John McClure Snook Assisted Living, 251-625-2555.

Perhaps you are caring for a loved one with mild dementia. Your loved one goes for a walk; an hour later he's not home yet. It's getting dark. You go looking for him but he's nowhere in sight. What do you do? Call the police? Ask neighbors for help in finding him?

It's a frightening situation which unfortunately happens in every community. If you live on the Eastern Shore, there's a new service that can help and perhaps save a life. Project Lifesaver is a joint effort of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department, Fairhope Police, and Mercy Medical. Here's how it works: The participant wears a small battery operated radio transmitter about the size of a wristwatch. If the participant is reported missing, the police set-up three receivers, each indicating the direction of the transmitted signal thereby accurately locating the person with the transmitter. So far, Project Lifesaver has already worked for one family; the participant was located within 15 minutes of notification.

The tracking device requires a new battery every month. The cost of this service is $10 a month; no one in need will be denied this service.