Project Lifesaver

Fulton County Emergency Services is a trained agency in Project Lifesaver. Residents enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies 911 and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area.

Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes — 95% less time than standard operations.

The program is a joint effort between the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, City of Canton Police Department, and Fulton County ESDA. ESDA has a limited number of transmitters that were provided with grant funding and donations. There is a $7 monthly fee charge by ESDA to offset the monthly battery and band costs. The batteries and bands are swapped out on a monthly basis by members of Fulton County ESDA.

The program is designed for those affected by autism, alzheimer’s, dementia, or other mental impairment that may cause them to wander from the safety of their homes. Enrolled people must live within Fulton County and have a caregiver or live-in resident with them. The program does not use GPS to track the patient so early notification of emergency responders is critical to the program’s success. The tracking bracelets have a 1-3 mile range depending on terrain.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program can contact Fulton County ESDA at 647-3358.