UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies in Union County are getting specialized training to help track people with cognitive conditions.
It’s called Project Lifesaver.
The program uses wearable tracking devices to help find people with conditions like Alzheimer’s who may wander away from home.
Project Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 in Chesapeake, Va.
The program operates through local public safety agencies, including law enforcement and fire rescue departments. Participating agencies undergo certification training that includes community policing courses designed to help first responders understand cognitive conditions and properly approach individuals when located.
Enrolled individuals wear a small transmitter on their wrist or ankle that emits an individualized radio frequency signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver contacts the local participating agency. Emergency search teams then respond to the area using tracking equipment tuned to the client’s specific frequency.
To become certified, local public safety agencies must complete training provided by Project Lifesaver International. Search operations conducted by certified agencies average a 30-minute recovery time.
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