World's First Lifesaving Rescue Drone Debuts In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Lifesaving rescue is taking a step into the future with the debut of a new military-grade drone on Wednesday in North Branch Park in Bridgewater.

The Somerset County Sheriff's Office demonstrated to the media on Wednesday morning how the drone is used. This drone is the first in the world and Somerset County is the first to use this technology.

The Project Lifesaver International Indago Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System is a military-grade quadrotor UAV designed specifically for the search and rescue of special-needs populations with cognitive disorders who are prone to life-threatening behavior of wandering including those with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, autism and down syndrome.

"This is the only drone in the world to do this and Somerset County is the first to start with it," Gene Sanders, founder of Project Lifesaver International.

Authorities took control of the drone, which is equipped with a radio frequency, and flew it up into the air. The drone coupled with another radio antenna on the ground can track a person wearing a specialized bracelet up to five miles away.

The drone was acquired by the Sheriff's Office on Monday and officials trained through Wednesday how to use it. Even in the pouring rain, authorities said the drone worked great.

Sanders, a former Captain of Special Operations with the Chesapeake, Virginia Police Department started PLI after witnessing countless of rescue missions.

"I saw authorities using countless hours and resources to try and find people and either they were not finding them or finding them too late," Sanders told Patch. "I thought there has to be a better way. Lives are at stake."

Sanders got a hold of a pamphlet for wildlife tracking and thought if they can track animals, why not people as well.

Sanders came up with the tracking bracelet and the use of a helicopter in 2004 to help search and rescue for those in need. A total of 1,600 counties across the United States were equipped with this system including six provinces in Canada as well. By 2007, New Jersey was the first state to have all of its counties equipped with this lifesaving device.

However, helicopters were very costly and could not fly in bad weather, such as the rain received in the area on Tuesday. That's where the drone came in.

"The cost to fly a helicopter for an hour versus flying this drone would never come close," Sanders said.

The drone can be flown during inclement weather and can stay in the air for about 45 minutes with one battery charge.

Since 2004 a total of 12 search and rescue missions have been completed in Somerset County, with 90 percent of them involving people with Alzheimer's disease, said Somerset County Sheriff Office Lt. Mark Szczecina.

Currently Somerset County has 40 clients enrolled in the free program including 23 children with autism and 17 people with Alzheimer's disease.

Somerset County locals can sign up for this free service for a loved one by contacting the Somerset County Office on Aging/NJEASE at 1-888-747-1122,

(Photos and video by Alexis Tarrazi)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.