PROJECT LIFESAVER
Monmouth County

     Project Lifesaver's mission is to use state of the art technology to find people with Alzheimer's disease, other memory disorders (such as dementia), or Autistic children who are prone to wander.  A lost person with such conditions represents a critical emergency.  They are often unaware of their situation and they may not call out for help and sometimes do not respond to people calling out for them.  
     The Project Lifesaver program, implemented in October, 2003 by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Office on Aging, uses bracelets that emit radio signals to locate individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders who may wander or get lost. Each Project Lifesaver bracelet has a separate radio frequency that will allow Sheriff’s Officers to hone in on the specific individual who is wearing the bracelet.
     The average time nationwide for locating individuals on the Project Lifesaver program is thirty minutes or less – Monmouth County officers has found individuals in less than ten minutes – Project Lifesaver works!
     A Project Lifesaver bracelet weighs one ounce and emits an inaudible tracking signal 24 hours a day. Sheriff’s Officers visit participants monthly to check on participants, equipment, and change the batteries in the bracelet.
     “Project Lifesaver offers comfort to caregivers knowing that those under their care can be quickly located if they should wander. Project Lifesaver is another example of the partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and Office on Aging,” said Office on Aging Executive Director John Wanat. “Hopefully, rescues will encourage others who have family members who can be helped through Project Lifesaver to apply for participation in the program."
     “Protection of our seniors, especially those with special needs, is important to all of us,” said Sheriff Joseph W. Oxley. “The Sheriff’s Office is proud to work with the Monmouth County Office on Aging in making this life-saving technology available to our residents."
     To apply for participation in the Monmouth County Project Lifesaver program, contact the Monmouth County Office on Aging at 732-431-7450 or toll free at NJ Ease 877-222-3737. For additional information, contact Undersheriff Cynthia Scott at 732-577-6613 or log on to www.sheriffoxley.com.