Project Lifesaver

Project Lifesaver Training Begins in Harrison County

Harrison is the 33rd county to use the missing-persons equipment.By Susan Sullivan NUTTER FORT -- Search-and-rescue officials out of Parkersburg say it takes a team nine hours to find someone with Alzheimer's or Autism who has wandered from home. But with Harrison County’s new Project Lifesaver equipment, they can cut that time down nearly 95 percent - and keep a growing demographic safe. Here's the scenario: A young girl with Autism has strayed from her path to the grocery store. She likes ducks and water.

 But the most important information, her frequency number: 224.413.

The first test search begins with Harrison County's new Project Lifesaver system. “Project Lifesaver is a search-and-rescue technique that is used for individuals with cognitive disabilities: Alzheimer's, Autism, Downs Syndrome,” said Sue Patalano, Project Lifesaver trainer from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department. “Individuals wear a bracelet around their wrist or ankle that has a transmitter in it with its own frequency number. It emits a signal once every second, and our equipment can track that signal when they are lost.” Sue Patalano from the Wood County Sheriff's Department is training her 33rd county to be certified in the program. “Once every 71 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and that's really scary,” said Patalano. “It’s really needed, so much. It's a very worthwhile program.” The Project Lifesaver transmitter is available for families with a member who has a cognitive disability, the tendency to wander, and a daily caregiver. “It's not expensive,” she explained. “Clients, if they can afford to, pay $10 a month maintenance fee, and that's because the battery has to be changed and that's all. But if they can't afford it, we find sponsors for them, so it's a very worthwhile program.” Using Project Lifesaver, West Virginia has had 14 successful rescues, said Patalano. On a nationwide scale, there have been 2,300 rescues, and no serious injuries, and no deaths. “Average rescue time is under 30 minutes,” said Patalano. Each Project Lifesaver starter set, one per county, has been purchased by a generous donation by Mr. and Mrs. John Raese, she said.