PROJECT LIFESAVER WRISTBAND HELPS SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES FIND MISSING CHATHAM MAN

 

PROJECT LIFESAVER WRISTBAND HELPS SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES FIND MISSING CHATHAM MAN

Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that Deputies were able to locate an elderly Chatham man this morning, who is enrolled in Project Lifesaver, after he wandered off from his residence in Chatham.

The Sheriff’s office was alerted this morning at approximately 7:30am by an alarm company advising that there was an alarm activation at his Chatham home. Deputy Toby VanAlstyne was in the area and familiar with the man, so he quickly prepared the tracking equipment. An external antenna was mounted on the roof of the patrol vehicle to pick up the radio wave and a search was conducted starting from the residence. The Deputy quickly picked up his signal and located the man about a quarter mile away from the residence sitting down in the wood line next to the road. Although it has been very warm, the man appeared to be in good health and was returned safely to his home.

Project Lifesaver is a rapid response program that aids victims, (and their families), who wander as a result of Alzheimer’s, Autism, Down Syndrome or Dementia. It uses state of the art technology and specifically trained Deputy Sheriff’s to locate those individuals who have wandered and may be lost and otherwise in peril. The person is outfitted with a wrist band that emits radio waves that can be constantly tracked. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has been participating in the program since 2009.

Project Lifesaver is provided to Columbia County residents as a result of a partnership established between the Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Office for the Aging and the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office which is a regional office for the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. For those with Autism, Down syndrome or other qualifying diagnosis served by the Taconic Office of Person with Developmental Disabilities, please call 845-473-5050 and ask for the Project Lifesaver Coordinator. For those with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia or other cognitive impairments, please call the Columbia County Office for the Aging at 518-828-4258 and ask for the Project Lifesaver Coordinator. For additional information on how to enroll, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 518-828-3344 and ask to speak with the Project Lifesaver Coordinator.

 

Author: Harlem Valley News