Florence
Township Police Department
Project Lifesaver
The Florence Township Police Department, in conjunction with
the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, organized the Burlington County
Project Lifesaver Program. Officers
have been trained and certified by experts from Project Lifesaver. Our trained officers are available at anytime
to respond to help locate missing persons who are a part of the Project Lifesaver
Program.
Being a personal caregiver for someone else is a difficult
task. The responsibility is enormous and can be draining. The situation can be
dramatically intensified when the person that is being cared for begins to
wander away. The caregiver is thrust into a situation where they cannot let
their guard down for a minute. The tendency
to wander is prevalent among people that are suffering from Alzheimer's disease
and other forms of dementia. People with Down Syndrome, Autism, Prader-Willi or
traumatic brain injury also exhibit this tendency. Reasoning, judgment, the
ability to communicate, and other behaviors are all affected by these
conditions. It is estimated that 59% of
people with Alzheimer's disease will wander and become lost. Many victims will
wander repeatedly. The dangers to the wanderer are numerous. If an elderly
Alzheimer's patient is left outside for more than 24 hours, their chance of
survival drops to 50% due to the risk of exposure. A lost person with Alzheimer's or a related
disease or injury represents a critical medical emergency. The wanderer's
inability or unwillingness to communicate has frustrated caregivers and
searchers alike. Traditional search methods rely heavily on the ability of the
lost person to respond to searchers when they call. When this ability doesn't
exist or the person elects not to respond, search efforts are time consuming
and can take a tragic turn.
Project Lifesaver Overview
Project Lifesaver is designed to provide a safety net for
the most vulnerable citizens in our community. Each Project Lifesaver client is
provided* a one-ounce electronic bracelet that emits a unique radio signal 24
hours a day. When a client wanders, a call to 911 by the caregiver triggers a
rapid response by a trained team within
Agencies using Project Lifesaver have reduced search time
dramatically. Searches that lasted hours and utilized dozens of search and
rescue personnel are now accomplished in under an hour by small specialized
teams. Fatalities have been reduced by 90%. If you have
a loved one or know of an acquaintance or care provider that could benefit from
involvement in Project Lifesaver, please contact:
Mark Van Ness
(609) 265-5796
