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Pocono News Section
Project Lifesaver Protects Vulnerable People
Project Lifesaver Protects Vulnerable People - Monday, February 15, 2010 at 4:38PM EST
Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Feb 15, 2010 @ 04:38pm EST
Jersey Shore, Lycoming County-
A new program is making use of radio frequencies to help save lives in one part of central Pennsylvania.
Project Lifesaver protects some of the area's most vulnerable people. That includes children with autism, seniors with Alzheimer's, and others suffering from dementia-type disorders, who are prone to wandering away from home.
John Campana, of Jersey Shore, said, "It'll be safer for the people and the families to know where their loved ones are especially with autism and even the elderly. I think that's a good cause because we've seen where a couple people do go missing and they can't track them. I think it's a pretty good idea."
Project Lifesaver clients are fitted with a wrist or ankle bracelet that emits a radio frequency. If that person is reported missing, they can be tracked electronically by rescuers.
Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Detective Daniel Hull noted, "Each client has a different frequency number, which we would program into the receiver to use for tracking purposes."
William Mould's mother suffered from dementia. He wishes Project Lifesaver had been available while she was alive.
Mould explained, "She had to end up in a nursing home because there was nothing like that. And I live out in the country and she lived with me at the time, and we had to really keep a close eye on her."
The Jersey Shore Area Community Disaster Team raised about $2,500 toward the system. Officials with the Jersey Shore Hospital collected the money, purchased the system, and presented it to the police department.
They expect it to be a huge benefit to the community.
Hull added, "The average search takes 30 minutes or less. So far, they've conducted over 2,000 searches throughout the county, with a 100% success rate."
Project Lifesaver is currently used in 41 states and two Canadian provinces.
Candidates for Project Lifesaver should contact Hope Enterprises in Lycoming County for an evaluation. Their phone number is 570-326-3745. | | |
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