[Scan-DC] Project Lifesaver

[Alan Henney]

Police mentioned a Lifesaver frequency of 215.375.  Has anybody
noticed this frequency used by Project Lifesaver?  Isn't this at the
upper edge of TV channel 13?


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          FOR MORE INFORMATION:
March 31, 2008 Media Services Division, 240-773-5030


Montgomery County Police Project Lifesaver
Program locates Critical Missing Man

Montgomery County Police Community Services Division officers in
collaboration with the Prince George’s County Police Department, the
Maryland State Police, and in conjunction with the Project Lifesaver
Program, located a critically missing man yesterday.

On March 30 between 5:30 p.m. and 5:55 p.m., Prince George’s County
police officers responded to a residence in the 13000 block of
Ingleside Drive in Beltsville for a critically missing man.  The
victim, a 43-year-old man with mental incapacitation, had walked away
from his caregiver and could not be located.  It was determined that
the missing man had been enrolled in the Montgomery County Police
Project Lifesaver Program which furnishes a bracelet capable of being
electronically tracked.

The Montgomery County Police were notified, and officers immediately
responded with the assistance of a Maryland State Police medivac
helicopter.  A short time later, a signal was received from the
missing man’s bracelet in the area of the Calverton Shopping Center in
the area of route 29 and Briggs Chaney Road in Burtonsville.  The
victim was located uninjured in the 14000 block of Armilla Court in
Burtonsville.  He had walked the several miles to that location.

Montgomery County Police implemented Project Lifesaver for the purpose
of assisting and identifying those individuals within the community
who have the propensity to wonder away and have difficulty returning
on their own.  The people enrolled in the program are fitted with a
tracking bracelet that has a tiny VHF transmitter which emits a signal
every second.  This signal can be picked up by a receiver used by a
trained officer.  This is the second time Montgomery County officers
have located a critically missing person assisted by this technology.
A 30-year-old man with Down Syndrome was located on January 29, 2008,
shortly after being reported missing.

Keeping watch over victims of Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, and other
related disorders can be taxing on their caregivers.  The Project
Lifesaver Program can be an additional tool when a developmentally
challenged loved one is physically active.

Anyone interested in further information about the program is welcome
to visit the police website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/police.
Click on Project Lifesaver.

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