A missing man with dementia was recently reunited with his family after being lost for almost an entire day, prompting the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office to remind the public about a program it offers called Project Lifesaver.
The Sheriff’s Office understands the profound concern and fear experienced by families and caregivers when a loved one goes missing, especially if they have a tendency to wander.
Project Lifesaver provides proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals within our community.
Santa Barbara County is home to thousands of residents who have Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, mental dysfunction disorders, and many young people with Down Syndrome or autism.
More than half of those with these conditions will wander at one time or another, the Sheriff’s Office reports, and those who become lost will require an urgent, well-trained response. If not found quickly, they are at high risk of serious injury or even death.
In the event a participant wanders off and the Sheriff’s Office is notified, the Search and Rescue team is deployed, using Project Lifesaver’s specialized tracking equipment to locate the missing person. Sheriff’s personnel and volunteers are trained to make that person feel at ease for a safe return home.
Project Lifesaver in Santa Barbara County has a 100% success rate. The national average of finding a Project Lifesaver client is 30 minutes versus the hours and days it can take to find someone without this technology, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages residents who have a family member who suffers from any condition where they could wander and get lost, to sign up for Project Lifesaver. While caregivers check that the battery and wristband are secure daily, both items are maintained and replaced monthly by Sheriff’s Office personnel or trained volunteers.
The Sheriff’s Department does not charge for anyone to be on the Project Lifesaver program, or for searches for missing clients; however, an initial equipment fee for the transmitter and first year of batteries and wristbands is $400, which includes a $100 refundable deposit on the transmitter.
Subsequent years cost $125 for the batteries and wristbands that are changed and inspected monthly by trained personnel. Sponsorships may be available for those in need of financial assistance.
To sign a loved one up for Project Lifesaver, visit https://www.sbsheriff.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Project-Lifesaver-Application_July2023.pdf for the application.
The application may be dropped off at any Sheriff’s Office location or emailed to ProjectLifesaver@SBSheriff.org. For more, call Tiffany Hampton, 805-681-4100. Inquiries may also be sent by email.