By forming partnerships with local law enforcement and public safety organizations, Project Lifesaver deploys specially trained teams with the most reliable technology available to quickly locate and return wandering adults and children to their families and caregivers. Project Lifesaver has become one of the leading organizations addressing the need to protect these persons and bring comfort to their families and caregivers. Established in April 1999 as an initiative of the 43rd Virginia Search and Rescue Company of the Chesapeake, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Project Lifesaver is built on the work of the Stokes County (NC) Mountain Rescue program which pioneered the use of special equipment and procedures to locate lost and wandering patients with mental disorders. Amid the dramatic increase of people with Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, and Autism, Project Lifesaver has become one of the leading organizations addressing the need to protect these patients and bring comfort to their families and caregivers.

How It Works

Project Lifesaver is an innovative, rapid response program aiding victims and their families suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders such as Down’s Syndrome and Autism. By forming partnerships with local law enforcement and public safety organizations, Project Lifesaver deploys specially trained teams with the most reliable technology available to quickly locate and return adults and children to their families and caregivers.

Project Lifesaver relies on proven radio technology and a specially trained search and rescue team. People who are part of the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify Cabell County 911 that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer’s area and starts searching with the mobile tracking system. Search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Project Lifesaver has been credited with over 1000 searches. There have been no reported serious injuries or death. Recovery times average less that 30 minutes.

About The Bracelet

The Project Lifesaver bracelet is much more than a passive ID bracelet. It is a one-ounce battery operated radio wrist transmitter emitting an automatic tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. The signal is tracked on the ground up to 1 mile and in the air up to 10 miles. As each bracelet has a unique radio frequency, the Project Lifesaver search team positively locates and identifies the person who has wandered away from home or a care facility.