Presentation Planned at Garden Spot Village

When Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Chad Roberts gave a presentation about Project Lifesaver at the East Lampeter Police Department near the end of 2022, an attendee asked if he might visit Garden Spot Village (GSV) to share information about the device that helps locate people with cognitive impairment who are prone to wander. Roberts, who is willing to discuss the benefits of Project Lifesaver with area groups, quickly set up a meeting with GSV staff.

The result is a presentation to be given by Roberts on Thursday, March 2, at 3 p.m. in the chapel at GSV, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. "I recommend that any family members with loved ones who wander due to cognitive issues, (such as) dementia, Alzheimer's disease, autism, or traumatic brain injuries, (attend)," Roberts said.

Individuals who are enrolled with Project Lifesaver wear a bracelet connected to a transmitter set to a designated radio frequency assigned to that person. If the individual wanders, the battery-operated device emits a signal that can be traced by law enforcement. Should a participant go missing, the caregiver calls a local police department, and police officers pick up the frequency to locate that specific transmitter. The equipment utilizes analog radio frequency because of its reliability. Use of the system minimizes time and resources needed to locate someone, and when it is employed, most participants who wander are found within 30 minutes.

In fact, Roberts reported that missing area residents have been found quickly when the device is employed. "In the past year or so, Lancaster County has had a few Project Lifesaver clients wander off, and (they) were located within approximately 30 minutes of (loved ones) calling police," said Roberts, who pointed to a Lancaster city incident and one in Manheim Borough. "Both individuals were returned to their loved ones safe and unharmed thanks to Project Lifesaver and the responding officers," he said.

In Lancaster County, Project Lifesaver was initiated by The Pilot Club of Lancaster, a service organization. In 2008, Pilot Club members connected with Chief Mark Pugliese of the West Hempfield Township Police Department. In 2012, the project launched from that location.

Troop J began participating with Project Lifesaver a few years ago. "(We) are proud to have this as a tool to aid in locating people that wander," said Roberts.

Readers who are interested in learning more about Project Lifesaver may visit https://sites.google.com/view/pilotcluboflancaster/home/project-lifesaver or contact Pilot Club of Lancaster members Kelly Osborne at kosborne946@yahoo.com or Cathy Cieslinski at cathyc1981@comcast.net.