An internationally recognized search-and-rescue program that helps first responders find people who wander and go missing due to cognitive conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is coming to Kawartha Lakes this summer.
Introduced for the first time in the Kawarthas region, Project Lifesaver enhances rapid response capabilities by providing first responders with specialized tracking equipment so they can quickly locate missing people and safely reunite them with their families.
Founded in Virginia in 1999, Project Lifesaver is a community-based non-profit organization that has grown into an international program run at the municipal level by trained law enforcement, fire/rescue, search-and-rescue, and other public safety agencies. More than 1,600 agencies across the U.S., Canada, and Australia are involved in the program.
The City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is introducing Project Lifesaver locally with support from the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service, and the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton.
A person who is registered in the program wears a small radio-frequency transmitter, usually on the wrist or ankle, that emits a tracking signal around the clock. When a caregiver reports the person is missing, trained police services use specialized equipment to locate the signal and bring the person home safely.
“Project Lifesaver strengthens our ability to respond quickly when vulnerable individuals go missing,” said Sergeant Ryan Weir of the OPP Emergency Response Team in a media release. “This program gives families peace of mind and provides first responders with an effective tool to save time and save lives.”
In a collaborative partnership between local emergency services and community organizations, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service sponsored the program’s introduction by funding start-up kits and equipment through its community paramedic program, which helps support vulnerable people living independently in the community.
“It’s a natural extension of our community paramedic program, with many of the same vulnerable individuals and families benefiting from both initiatives,” said Chief Sara Johnston of the Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service. “Any program that helps keep people safe, supported, and at home is something we’re thrilled to be part of.”
The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton will oversee client enrolment and distribute Project Lifesaver kits.
“When someone you care for goes missing, every minute matters for their safety and for the families who love them,” said the society’s executive director Jen Johnstone. “Project Lifesaver adds a critical layer of protection in our community, helping first responders act quickly and bring people home safely.”
City of Kawartha Lakes OPP and the Kawartha Lakes Police Service will respond to incidents involving registered participants and conduct searches using the tracking technology.
“When time is critical, this technology helps first responders act quickly and save lives,” said Sergeant Ryan Boutin of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service. “Working together with our emergency service and community partners strengthens our ability to keep vulnerable residents safe.”
For more information about Project Lifesaver, call the Alzheimer’s Society at 705-748-5131. Details about local enrollment and timelines will be shared as the program rollout continues.
