Imagine you wake up to find your front door open and your autistic child is missing. Or maybe granddad has wandered away while grandma was taking a bath. What do you do?
Pilot Club of Gastonia is partnering with the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and other service organizations in Gaston County to implement Project Lifesaver, http://www.projectlifesaver.org.
Project Lifesaver is a public safety program that uses radio frequency technology to locate missing persons suffering from a condition that causes them to wander from their caregiver. The clients wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When the caregiver notifies the Project Lifesaver agency, a search & rescue team responds to the area and searches using mobile tracking devices.
The success rate with this program nationally has been outstanding with an average recovery time of 30 minutes. Currently all clients have been recovered alive. This is a huge improvement over manual search and rescue efforts.
Who Can Enroll?
The client must meet the following guidelines
- Lives in Gaston County
- Has a diagnosed condition which has either caused wandering or is likely to cause wandering
- Has a caregiver who will check the battery every day and keep a daily log
- Must be willing to wear the transmitter at all times
Applications are currently being taken. You may complete the form on our Contact Us page or applications are also available from DSS, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, ARC of Gaston County, the Autism Society or by contacting Pilot Club of Gastonia.
How Much Does It Cost?
There is no charge to clients who meet the criteria. The program is sponsored by the Pilot Club of Gastonia with assistance from other community civic & service organizations and individuals. It relies on grants and donations to provide services. Clients may also be sponsored by individuals or groups.
The initial project implementation cost was $10,000. Each individual client transmitter costs $300. Batteries and bands are replaced monthly. Annual costs for battery and band maintenance per client is expected to be $80.
