Project Lifesaver Greater Victoria announced they are expanding the Project Lifesaver program to Sooke, thanks to the involvement of the Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue group.
Designed to track and rescue those with cognitive conditions who tend to wander, this service answers a critical need for protecting people at risk of wandering, including those with Alzheimer’s, autism, Down Syndrome and dementia. Clients enrolled in the service will wear a wrist-watch sized radio transmitter on their wrist or ankle. The transmitter constantly emits a radio frequency signal, which can be tracked regardless of where the person has wandered -— even into a densely wooded area, marsh, concrete structure such as a garage, or a building constructed with steel.
When a loved one goes missing, care givers notify locally trained agencies and they are dispatched to the wanderer’s area. The average rescue time remains around 30 minutes.
Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue is pleased to be able to offer this new service to the citizens of Juan de Fuca Electoral Area and the District of Sooke. There are no fees charged for this service or any other services performed by Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue to the clients or public.
Families and caregivers can enroll their loved ones by contacting We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation, 250-920-9573 (www.werageweweep.com)the Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia, 250-384-6696 (www.sarbc.ca) or Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue (pager 250-480-2283).
For those families or caregivers who cannot afford the service, funding may be available.
Established in 1999, Project Lifesaver International (PU) is a non-profit organization that is committed to helping families quickly find their loved ones who wander because of Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, dementia, and autism. Project Lifesaver works with local law enforcement agencies in more than 1,000 communities in the U.S. and Canada to protect some of society’s most vulnerable citizens. PU provides training and support to all agencies and continues to work with organizations on education and awareness regarding the issue of wandering. Visit www.projectlifesaver.org