Project Lifesaver expands to Almaguin Highlands, West Parry Sound

Recent rescue shows value of Lifesaver program After a recent rescue, North Bay police and North Bay Air Search and Rescue are emphasizing the importance of Project Lifesaver.

A tool that helps locate high-risk, vulnerable people who have a tendency to 'wander' is now available in more northeastern Ontario communities.

Project Lifesaver involves a personalized wristband that has a tracker in it that uses radio signals rather than GPS.

Recently, it was brought to the Almaguin Highlands and West Parry Sound areas and is now up and running.

The program is for people with a cognitive delay such as Alzheimer's, dementia, autism or Down Syndrome.

"When caregivers notify police that the person is missing, in addition to regular police resources, Project Lifesaver trained OPP officers respond to the area where the lost person was last seen and searches the area with a mobile location tracking system," Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release.

"The Project Lifesaver wristband is a one-ounce, battery-operated wrist transmitter emitting a unique FM radio frequency-based signal that emits a signal every second, 24 hours a day."

The signal can be traced within 2.5 kilometres on the ground and eight to 10 in the air from a helicopter.

"Most who wander are found within a few kilometres from home, and search times when using Project Lifesaver have been reduced from hours and days to minutes," OPP said.

"Recovery times for Project Lifesaver clients average 30 minutes – 95 per cent less time than standard operations."

Within the last month, Project Lifesaver helped police find two people with dementia who had gone missing in the North Bay area.

On June 23, police located a man who left home after getting upset and fell in a wooded area and was unable to get up.

Police were able to find a woman in her 90s within minutes after she wandered from her assisted living facility on July 8.

For more information or to enrol someone in the program, contact Parry Sound District Paramedic Service Community Paramedicine Program 705-746-8844.