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TEMISKAMING DISTRICT, Ont. — The Temiskaming Shores and Kirkland Lake detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police are announcing Project Lifesaver is up and running in the northern and southern parts of the district, including in Temiskaming Shores, Englehart, Temagami, and Kirkland Lake.
Project Lifesaver is a system for people of all ages who are considered high-risk and vulnerable. They must have a tendency to "wander" and have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other dementias, Autism, Down syndrome or other forms of cognitive delay. Project Lifesaver uses a radio frequency-based tracking system. This technology is considered to be accurate, simple, and dependable.
The task of searching for these wandering or lost individuals is a growing and serious responsibility. Without effective procedures and equipment, searches can involve multiple agencies, hundreds of officers, countless hours and cost thousands of dollars. More importantly, because time is of the essence, every minute lost increases the risk of a tragic outcome. Most who wander are found within a few kilometres from home, and search times when using Project Lifesaver have been reduced — from days and hours — to minutes. Recovery times for Project Lifesaver clients average 30 minutes, a reduction in operation duration of 95 per cent.
Project Lifesaver has led to successful outcomes across the province and in neighbouring districts, including the rescue of a vulnerable' child, lost in the bush of a swampy area of Callander, Ont., this past holiday season and the location of an elderly person with dementia reported missing during the evening hours by a family member in December 2020.
See related: This Project Lifesaver technology helps protect vulnerable loved ones who wander
See also: Project Lifesaver launches in West Nipissing
And: Project Lifesaver proves its value during mock rescue
Clients wear a one-ounce, battery-operated wristband transmitter that emits a unique FM radio frequency-based signal every second, 24 hours per day. In the event caregivers notify police that their loved one is missing, in addition to regular police resources, Project Lifesaver trained OPP officers will also respond to the area where the lost person was last seen and will search the area for their unique tracking signal with the mobile system.
The signal can be tracked on the ground for approximately 2.5 kilometres, or in the air from a helicopter from a range of approximately 10 kilometres. As each wristband has a unique radio frequency, the Project Lifesaver team can positively locate and identify the person who has wandered away from home using portable directional antennae to locate the signal. The wristband transmitter is powered by a battery that is changed approximately every 60 days. Caregivers are provided with a battery tester and are required to manually test the battery daily.
The receivers work with two interchangeable antennae. The Omni antenna has a magnetic base that allows it to be secured to the roof of responding OPP vehicles. It has less range than the Yagi antenna but does allow for the transmitted signal to be received from any direction, making it an ideal option for mobile sweeps of search areas. Once a signal is picked up with the Omni antenna, there is then a switch to the Yagi antenna from that location.
The primary antenna is the Yagi-style antenna. The Yagi allows first responders to make use of the maximum range of the bracelets and have the advantage of being directional. Police can determine the direction and approximate distance of the transmitter from their own positions.
GPS is the most accurate navigation system in the world, but the navigation signals are very weak and can be difficult to locate in blocked environments, such as inside buildings or structures. The clients registered with Project Lifesaver do not exhibit traditional lost person characteristics and often do not realize they are, in fact, lost. Oftentimes, they will wander into areas where the GPS signal is very poor such as underground parking, dense bush or inside structures. These are reasons why the radio frequency-based Project Lifesaver system is beneficial for these applications.
Project Lifesaver is another great tool in the toolbox for search and rescue. The Temiskaming and Kirkland Lake OPP will remain in charge of any search and will still conduct "investigations as usual," by calling out all applicable resources, for example; the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Canine Unit, OPP Aviation Services-Helicopter Section, Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
For more information contact: Project Lifesaver Temiskaming and District, care of (c/o) Victim Services of Temiskaming and District: 705-647-0096 or 705-568-2154.
