SAMANTHA MCDORR, right, is shown with her daughter, Sage. The McDorr family has helped bring a tracking system to Brunswick in order to keep those with autism and other conditions safe.
Brunswick residents could soon have access to a system that keeps loved ones afflicted with autism, Alzheimer’s, or other conditions that cause them to wander, safe. The town council on Monday accepted funds to begin a Project Lifesaver program in Brunswick.
Those enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter on a band that emits an individualized tracking signal, according to the Project Lifesaver website. When activated, the band sends a signal that can be tracked by police, similar to the Lojack vehicle recovery system.
Recovery times for Project Lifesaver clients average 30 minutes.
Brunswick Police Capt. Mark Waltz on Tuesday noted that many with autism are attracted by water, which has led to many drownings.
Waltz cited the case of a Brunswick girl who drowned in 2008. Ashley Brock was 6-years-old when she wandered away during a family cookout in Brunswick. She was found drowned in a neighbor’s pool.
“For whatever reason, folks with autism are drawn to water,” Waltz said. “That makes it important to find them quickly.”
The $7,000 system is being paid for through a $5,000 unsolicited grant, in addition to $2,000 in donations raised from the McDorr family.
Ben and Samantha McDorr began a campaign several months ago to bring Project Lifesaver to Brunswick. Their daughter, Sage, has autism, and has a tendency to run unpredictably.
There will be additional costs the police department does not have funding for, according to Waltz, including $300 per band that will be paid for by individuals enrolling loved ones in the program.
Paying for for the bands, as well as a yearly $25 service fee will give families “some investment in the program,” Waltz told the town council Monday.
“It’s a good idea to bring it to Brunswick,” said Waltz in an interview Tuesday.
Project Lifesaver provides in-depth training on the use of specialized electronic search and rescue equipment, technology and procedures, as well as teaching rescuers how to communicate with people afflicted with cognitive conditions, all of which are essential to the successful rescue of missing persons who wander or otherwise become lost. It certifies search and rescue personnel and provides ongoing management to participating agencies. According to its website, Project Lifesaver has more than 1,300 participating agencies in the U.S., Canada and Australia. After more than 2,800 Project Lifesaver searches over 14 years, no serious injuries or fatalities have been reported, according to the organization’s website.
Council Chairman Benet Pols on Monday thanked the McDorr family for thinking of others in the community.
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
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