Project Lifesaver

About Project Lifesaver

Special needs residents in our community, who meet the eligibility requirements, are fitted with a device (bracelet) that would allow officers to track them should they become lost. The officers are equipped with locating devices that utilize radio waves to locate the transmitters that the program clients are issued. Here are some statistics relating to Project Lifesaver:

• Began in 1999 by the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office, Chesapeake, Virginia, as a search and rescue operation, based on the need to find missing Alzheimer's victims. Later expanded to finding children with Autism and persons with Down syndrome.
• There are an estimated 5 million persons in the United States with Alzheimer's and by 2030, there will be an estimated 15 million.
• 59% of Alzheimer's victims develop the tendency to wander and 72% will do so repeatedly.
• If the victim is not found within 24 hours, there is only a 50% chance they will be recovered alive.
• Project Lifesaver started with 10 clients in Chesapeake Virginia in its "pilot program" in April 1999.
• The program achieved success immediately, recovering lost victims in a record average of less than 30 minutes.
• Over 1,500 searches have been conducted nationwide with a 100% success rate. All persons have been recovered alive.
• Project Lifesaver is now operating in 41 states with over 550 agencies in the United States. Information requests have been received from Australia, France, Great Britain, Guam and other countries.

Requirements

To participate in the Citrus Heights Police Department's Project Lifesaver program, the prospective client must:

• Live within the city limits of Citrus Heights.
• Be diagnosed by a certified physician as having Alzheimer's Disease, other dementia disorders, autism, Down's Syndrome, or similar disorders.
• Be known to wander away from caretakers.

How it Works

The administrator of the Citrus Heights Police Department's Project Lifesaver program will give qualified participants a plastic bracelet containing a waterproof radio transmitter. Each participant's transmitter is assigned a radio frequency that is unique both to them and to their geographical area of Citrus Heights. The bracelets may be worn on the client's wrist or ankle. If a Project Lifesaver client goes missing, the caregiver should contact the Citrus Heights Police Department immediately by calling 911. Trained officers will respond to the location and begin searching for the missing person using Project Lifesaver radio-frequency tracking equipment. Project Lifesaver is a free voluntary program. However, the bracelets will be issued on a first come first served basis to those residents who meet the eligibility requirements. In order to participate, caretakers must agree to assume the following responsibilities:

• Test the client's radio transmitter battery daily.
• Check the condition of the bracelet daily.
• Maintain a monthly log sheet provided by the Project Lifesaver Team.
• Notify the Citrus Heights Police Department's Project Lifesaver Team promptly if there are any problems with the equipment.
• Most important, immediately call 911 if a Project Lifesaver client goes missing.

Contributing & Further Information

The goal of the Police Department is to offer this program at no, or very low cost to participants. If you are a local business or a private party who would like to contribute funds towards the success of this program please contact us via email. If your loved one doesn't qualify for Project Lifesaver, we are also implementing an identification program for those in our community who have the potential to wander, but do not yet have a history of doing so. Please obtain an Identification Registration form at the front lobby of the Police Department. If you wish to learn more about the program, feel free to call our agency or look at the official website.

For donations: Go Fund Me

The following downloadable documents are available to print and mail to Citrus Heights Police Department, 6315 Fountain Square Drive, Citrus Heights, California 95621:

• Project Lifesaver Application Packet (PDF)
• Project Lifesaver Client Profile - Adult (PDF)
• Project Lifesaver Client Profile - Child (PDF)
• Project Lifesaver Program Contract (PDF)