Project Lifesaver services available

The sheriff’s departments of Pierce and St. Croix counties now have application forms available for families wishing to enroll as clients with Project Lifesaver.

Project Lifesaver uses personalized radio transmitters for people who are at risk of wandering away from their homes and becoming lost. The transmitters are designed to help locate individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, autism, dementia, Down syndrome and related conditions.

The intent is to begin accepting the applications in January and to implement the program in February.

After months of fundraising, local advocates have the $20,000 needed to establish the program in the two counties.

Earlier this fall two officers from Pierce County and two from St. Croix completed Lifesaver training. These four officers are now search specialists and certified trainers and can train other personnel in their departments.

The program will be coordinated by the sheriff’s departments with input from a panel of community representatives.

Project Lifesaver uses wristwatch-size radio transmitters that provide a constant radio signal. Each transmitter emits an automatic tracking signal every second around the clock and has a unique radio frequency.

If a client is lost, the caregiver should immediately call 911, and trained personnel will be dispatched to the last known location to begin the search. Program supporters say it takes an average of 30 minutes to find a person using this technology.

These are the enrollment procedures: