WAREHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT JOINS PROJECT LIFESAVER -
A SEARCH & RESCUE SERVICE TO PROTECT THOSE WITH
COGNITIVE CONDITIONS WHO WANDER

The Wareham Police Department has been provided with Training, Certification, Equipment and Support to Help Those Who Wander

The Wareham Police Department recently received training in the Project Lifesaver program. This program is designed to track and rescue those with cognitive conditions who tend to wander. This service answers a critical need for protecting people at risk of wandering, including those with Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome and dementia.

Project Lifesaver International, the leading organization in electronic search and rescue (SAR) programs, provides training, certification, ongoing management and support to public safety personnel. Their training includes teaching public safety officials how to use the equipment and how to gain the trust of and communicate with people who wander, as well as to ensure that caregivers are well versed in the program – all of which are essential to a successful rescue.

Clients enrolled in the service will wear a wristwatch sized radio transmitter on their wrist or ankle. The transmitter constantly emits a Radio Frequency signal, which can be tracked regardless of where the person has wandered—even into a densely wooded area, a marsh, a concrete structure such as a garage, or a building constructed with steel. When a loved one goes missing, caregivers notify locally trained agencies and they are dispatched to the wanderer’s area. The average rescue time remains around 30 minutes. Project Lifesaver develops public outreach programs to educate others about the issue of wandering, and they constantly work toward developing public policy and effective law enforcement response to help save lives and “bring loved ones home.”

Please contact Sgt. Chris Park 508-295-1473 ext. 2260 with any questions about the Project Life Saver.