Project Lifesaver, a rapid response program, was put to use in Paden City on July 9. According to Sergeant Dave Byers of the New Martinsville Police Department, the police department received a call around 7:15 p.m. that a 73-year-old male with Alzheimer’s who was missing. Byers responded with his tracking equipment at 7:29 p.m and the elderly person was located by 7:37 p.m. in Paden City. This person did have one of the locator bracelet on through the Project Lifesaver, which resulted in the quick response and location.

This mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide rapid response to save lives and reduce a potential for serious injury for adults and children who have Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, Autism, dementia, and other related disorders.

A bracelet is worn by the individuals all the time. They send out a signal to those trying to locate them if they become lost. They can be detected one mile away on the ground. This cuts down on hours of search time along with people needed to do a team search of an area.

The Project LifeSaver provides equipment, training, and certification to support the law enforcement and public safety organizations which operates the program in their communities.

Byers also stated that Patrolman Friend Estep responded along with Tyler County Office of Emergency Management Director Tom Cooper, and Don Collins.

Project Lifesaver can be done by the air with helicopters. “We have a five- to seven-mile range up in the air,” stated Byers, who is also a Helicopter Service Specialist with this program.

There are currently 22 counties in West Virginia that now have the Project Lifesaver, according to Byers.

If anyone is interested in this rapid response program or want more information, contact Sergeant Dave Byers at the New Martinsville Police Department by calling (304) 455-9100.