Alzheimer's patients would be outfitted with small transmitters on a bracelet. The bracelets contain detailed information about the patient including a photograph. The patient's information is downloaded into a database, which will assist the APD in aiding a rescue search, if the person becomes missing. Individuals must live within the city of Atlanta and meet other criteria to be eligible for the device.
"The cost analysis show a great benefit of launching this new initiative," remarked APD Chief Richard Pennington. "The average law enforcement search for a missing person costs about $1,500 per hour. The average search time for an Alzheimer's victim is nine hours. The average cost for a Program Lifesaver search is $300. The average time spent searching for an Alzheimer's victim with a bracelet is only 22 minutes."
The Atlanta Police Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the United States to establish a Project Lifesaver Program. APD is currently seeking private donations to cover the bracelets, which cost about $260 each and require $25 batteries every month. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, send a check/money order to:
Project Lifesaver International
ATTN: Project Lifesaver Atlanta
815 Battlefield Blvd.
To participate in the program, contact the APD Missing Persons Unit at 404.853.4235.
--CM
