Project Lifesaver is an innovative and rap-idly growing program aiding the victims and families suffering Alzheimer's Dis-ease and related disorders such as Down's Syndrome and Autism. Project Lifesaver uses state-of-the-art technology employing wristband transmitters to locate wandering and lost adults and children. Over 5,000,000 people in the USA have Alzheimer's. That number will triple by 2050. Well over 50% of these people wander and become lost. A lost person with Alzheimer's or other dementia repre-sents a critical emergency as nearly half of them will die and many can become injured or fall victim to predators if they are not located within 24 hours. The num-ber of people, families and communities experiencing this risk will grow dramati-cally in this decade. If you are not yet touched in some way by Alzheimer's or related disease, chances are you will be within the next several years. You will find it among neighbors, your friends, co-workers and their fami-lies, and perhaps within your own family.

How Project Lifesaver Works

Project Lifesaver is much more than a passive ID bracelet. It is an active system that relies on state-of-the-art technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. People who are part of the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized bracelet that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer's area and starts searching with the mobile locater tracking system.. Search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. In hundreds of searches, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths. Recovery times average less than 30 minutes. The Project Lifesaver bracelet is much more than a passive ID bracelet. It is a one-ounce battery-operated radio wrist transmitter emitting an automatic tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. The signal is tracked on the ground by Sheriff’s Deputies or in the air with a Mosquito Control helicopter. All especially trained to use the advanced technology equip-ment to track a signal over several miles. As each bracelet has a unique radio frequency, the Project Lifesaver search team positively locates and identifies the person who has wan-dered away from home or a care facility.

You may be asking “Now all this sounds nice but how much does this cost?”

We have two different plans available now to acquire a bracelet for your loved one.

1. A one time purchase of $300.00 which will cover one year of batteries and bracelets, after that $10.00 a month will cover the costs of your membership.
    
2. A $20.00 lease to own plan, which after 24 months you will own your transmitter, like above you will be responsible for a $10.00 a month membership fee.

Your $10.00 a month fee covers our costs for battery replacement and band replacement.
You will not have to worry about changing the battery or band yourself, a Deputy will arrive once a month to ensure the battery replace-ment is completed. You will be provided with test equipment to perform a daily check of your loved ones bracelet.

What you will be left with is a peace of mind that your loved one, be it your grandfather, father, mother, or child can be located should they wander off. Of course this is not a 100% safeguard, you will still have the responsibility of taking care of your bracelet and letting us know if it is not working properly. You will have to do your part, so we can do ours.

Savannah / Chatham County Visitors
For Project Lifesaver clients visiting the Savannah- Chatham County area, and would like our agency to monitor your loved one while you are visiting, please call us at 912-495-2363 (pager). Leave your number at the prompt and hit the #(pound) symbol on your phone and hang up, a Project Lifesaver team leader will call you back and coordinate the necessary details. If you do not receive a call back within a few minutes call us at 912-660-7633 and speak with Sgt. Moore. We would be proud to assist you while you conduct your visit to our area.

A Special Thanks
We wish to thanks the Pilot Club of Savannah for this agencies dedication to fundraising for Project Life-saver. This dedication to Project Lifesaver has helped fund this valu-able program in cities across the United States.

A special thanks to the Management Development Program Class of 2009 and their fundraising efforts to pur-chase all of our equipment. They truly are Chatham County S.T.A.R.S!

What is Project Lifesaver?

Project Lifesaver is a non-profit organization located in Virginia.  They train law enforcement in how to utilize reliable radio technology to track individuals with brain injuries or defects.  Project Lifesaver is deployed nationwide by local law enforcement agencies to help families find those that tend to wander.

Who is eligible for this program?

Project Lifesaver is for people suffering from severe brain injuries or diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Down’s syndrome, and Autism.  These are people that are at risk because as a result of their disease or injury they are likely to wander and become disoriented and confused.

How reliable is Project Lifesaver?

Project Lifesaver specially trains our tracking teams in not only search and rescue and the use of the electronic tracking equipment, but also in the methods necessary to communicate with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease or related disorder. Locating the individual is only part of the mission. The person who is located may be disoriented, anxious, and untrusting. The Project Lifesaver team knows how to approach the person, gain their trust and put them at ease for the trip home.

How much does Project Lifesaver cost?

We have two types of programs available.  The first is a onetime cost of $300 which will cover the purchase of the monitor and batteries and wristbands for one year.  The other plan is a client can lease to own the equipment for $20 a month for 24 months and at the end of this time will own the monitor.  We are also working with our local chapter of the Pilot Club International who are raising money to provide monitors to those that cannot afford them.

How safe is Project Lifesaver?

As with any program available there are risks and limitations.  Since Project Lifesaver is a radio based frequency the limitation is the range of the tracking equipment.  There is an average range of 1 diameter mile from the point of the tracking device when deployed on the ground.  When deployed in air, that range increases to 5 miles.

Another limitation is the reliability of the client in checking the device daily to make sure it is functioning properly.   This program is not intended to be a babysitter or relieve the client of closely monitoring their activities but rather provides them with a peace of mind that comes with knowing that if their loved one does wander then we have the means to locate them usually within the national average of 30 minutes or less.  The faster we locate them the better chance of finding them alive and unharmed.  Statistics show that the longer it takes to locate someone with a brain injury or defect, the chances of finding them unharmed or worse significantly decrease.

Why we are using old fashioned radio transmitters versus G.P.S (global positioning systems)?
We have been asked several times the question of why we are using old fashioned radio transmitters versus G.P.S (global positioning systems), the short answer is this. Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment in a emergency search situation is less durable, the battery has to be changed too frequently, it is bulky to be worn, can fail in bad weather, and it’s signal is often unde-tected indoors, under trees, and in any area that blocks sunlight. Another major reliability factor is the power source(s). GPS detection and notification systems for the wandering individual rely on AC power while their personal GPS equipment relies on batteries that last hours or 1-2 days. The Project Lifesaver battery pro-vides a continuous signal for 30-45 days.