Project Life Saver locates lost or missing persons with Alzheimer’s
Last year in the Denver Metro Area three people suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia lost their lives when they wandered away from their residence alone. The Denver Police Department believes with
new technology combined with traditional search and location methods this can be avoided in the future.
The Denver Police Department has invested in the
Project Life Saver Program. Project Lifesaver is a
radio transmission system designed to assist law enforcement and rescue agencies in locating lost or missing persons who have been diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s, Autism, Dementia, or other disorders that may prohibit them from communicating personal information such as who they are or where they live. This program is designed for children and adults who have the propensity to
wander from their homes and who may get lost.
The program relies on proven technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. Lifesaver clients wear a
wristband that emits a silent tracking signal. When caregivers notify the Police Department that a
loved one is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the area and starts searching with state-of-the-art tracking equipment. Using this technology, search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. In over 1000 searches nationwide, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths, and
recoveries average less than 25 minutes.
The transmitter is a small circular radio device on a wristband, approximately the size of a wristwatch. The transmitters and wristbands are worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are difficult to remove without the appropriate tools. If the participant becomes lost or missing, the Police Department and emergency response services have
specialized tracking equipment to help isolate the location of the transmitter the participant is wearing. The search will start from the last known location of the participant and work outward until the transmission signal is obtained. The goal is to determine the location of the signal in a quick, timely manner, minimizing the risk of harm to the loved one.
With the assistance of The Denver Police Foundation and The Denver City Council the Denver Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit And Exploited Persons Unit has purchased 2 tracking devices and 20 transmitters.
Prepared by
Sonny Jackson, Public Information Officer, Denver Police Department