Rescue 100 percent for Alzheimer's patients wearing wristband

Project Lifesaver

Rescue record 100 percent for Alzheimer's patients wearing wristband

by Dave Pirtle, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Do you have a family member or friend that has Alzheimer's? Do you worry about this person walking away from you, either at home or a store?

Sheriff John Armer has in place a program that can remove this worry. Project Lifesaver is a program consisting of equipment that can help you locate your family member or friend very quickly. This is a free program.

Project Lifesaver electronically tracks those at risk of wandering, specifically Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, autistic patients and others with diminished mental capacities. This is a nationwide program, currently in use in 320 sheriff's offices, police and public safety agencies in 37 states.

Since Project Lifesaver started, it has helped in more than 5,000 rescues. The average rescue time is 22 minutes, with a success rate of 100 percent and no deaths or injuries.

Project Lifesaver involves specialized radio receivers, complete with directional antennae, headsets, filters, cables and other related electronic support equipment, for the search team. The patients are equipped with small battery-operated wristband transmitters. Radio signals are tracked directly to the subject in the same manner as biologists track wildlife.

Gila County Sheriff's Office and Tonto Rim Search and Rescue implemented this program in our area, after identifying numerous at-risk persons in this category. This program is being provided free, thanks to donations from our community.

If you'd like to have a family member or friend participate in this program, call Sgt. Terry Hudgens at (928) 474-2208. Participants in this program are kept confidential. Our goal is to save lives and remove stress from caregivers. With more than five million people in the United States afflicted with Alzheimer's, and the number expected to triple by 2050, chances are everyone will be touched by this disease in the next several years. Join me in supporting this worthy cause.