Sheriff's Office preparing to launch Project Lifesaver | Events

LINCOLNTON, NC (WBTV) - The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to launch Project Lifesaver to assist Search and Rescue operations.

The system can be used when children and adults with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down’s syndrome or other memory-related illnesses wander from the safety of their parents or caregivers.  This will give people a peace of mind knowing there is extra help in finding a missing person.

People enrolled in the program wear a battery operated tracking device either on the ankle or as a bracelet.  It the person wanders away, deputies will use a mobile tracking device to pick up the bracelet’s signal.  The bracelets have a tracking range of up to one mile.  The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will maintain a description of the individual as well as a recent photograph.  The Sheriff’s Office will also be responsible for providing that information to surrounding municipal police departments and partner agencies.

Project Lifesaver relies on the proven radio technology and a specially trained search and rescue team.  The search and rescue team responds to the point where the participant was last seen and begins tracking the individual with a specific assigned frequency with the search equipment.  The transmitter emits a signal when a loved one wanders away.  The Sheriff’s Department is notified and the Special trained and equipped search team is dispatched.

To find out if your loved one is eligible for the program, contact Sheriff’s Lt. Erin Long at 704-736-8878.  If you are approved a monthly maintenance fee of $20 is required to cover the cost to maintain the device, including bands, batteries, etc; Sheriff’s officers will routinely check the equipment to be sure it’s working properly including changing the batteries when necessary.

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