The Daviess County Fire department recently completed their annual Project Lifesaver training, wherein firefighters use technological transmitters to recover missing persons who either walk away from their homes or become lost. The majority of those DCFD serves through Project Lifesaver are autistic or suffer from dementia, and the fire department has kept the program running since 2005.
Firefighters completed three training exercises over the last few weeks to demonstrate how radio technology is involved in finding missing persons through the program. According to Keith Hurm, clients are equipped with a bracelet that acts as a transmitter, allowing first responders to pick up their signal from two miles away. After that, firefighters are able to narrow down the search using the technology to zero in on a person’s exact location.
“We try to get the guys and gals on the fire department to get the equipment out at least once a year,” Hurm said. “We teach them how to listen and communicate back and forth.”
When a “walkaway” occurs, both DCFD stations are able to track the individual, Hurm said. Though a video of DCFD’s training showed firefighters tracking someone in the woods, those who walk away don’t always end up in a wooded area, he said.
“I had a patient with dementia wander off from his house. In 10 minutes, he got six-tenths of a mile away from his home, but he was still in his subdivision,” he said. “Alzheimer’s patients can be looking for home but, in their mind, where is home?”
Searching for an autistic client is a little different, Hurm said. Most of his autistic clients don’t have a fear of water, which can make the situation dangerous for them. Currently, Hurm has two clients with what he called “high-functioning autism.” Both are young, he said, and are students in the Owensboro Public Schools system.
“The latest, the mom called me back in July to sign her child up for the program,” he said. “We’ve had clients come and go over the years. One client was with the program on three different occasions.”
Project Lifesaver gives many parents and caregivers peace of mind, Hurm said. During all three training sessions last week, first responders were able to locate the missing individuals in under an hour.
“It provides a lot of security,” Hurm said. “We’ve had right at 40 clients over the years.”
Additional information about Project Lifesaver can be found here or by contacting Hurm at 270-685-8440.
