In light of the recent wandering disappearance of dementia patients in Clallam County, the Sequim Police Department wants to remind the public of the Project Lifesaver Program available in Clallam County.
Project Lifesaver is a program that is proven to locate people who wander due to disorienting disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Down syndrome, autism or any other disorder that can cause disorientation or wandering. The client wears a wrist or ankle band which emits an individualized tracking signal on an assigned radio frequency. The caregiver notifies 9-1-1 if a client goes missing, a team will respond to search for them. The average rescue time is less than 30 minutes.
“We are very happy that the individuals who went missing recently were recovered, but they were not in very good shape when they were found,” said Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson.
“The Project Lifesaver Program can help locate, and return clients safely to their home or care facility much more quickly and reduce their risk of harm or increased health problems.”
Project Lifesaver operates in more than 1,000 jurisdictions across the nation. The Sequim Police Department, 683-7227, manages the program and enrolls clients for east Clallam County. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, 417-2376, manages the program and enrolls clients west of Deer Park Road.
The Sequim Police Department, Clallam County Fire District 3 and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office all have personnel trained as electronic search specialists and the agencies work together to electronically search for a missing client.
Once a client is enrolled in the program, a caregiver will be required to check the transmitter daily for battery power. Participants must be seen on a monthly basis to replace the transmitter battery. There is a one-time $50 fee to enroll a client in the program.
The Project Lifesaver Program is available by the Sequim Police Department through generous funding from the Ray and Donna Guerin Family Foundation.
For more information, call the Sequim Police Department at 683-7227 or visit the city’s website www.sequimwa.gov.
