Suffolk County Sheriff Reminds Residents of Project Lifesaver Program

Spring is in the air meaning families are enjoying the nice weather and spending more time outdoors.

However, for a parent or guardian of a child with autism, a trip to the local park or downtown could cause safety concerns because children with autism have a tendency to wander off.

In honor of April being Autism Awareness Month, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office offers a program that could reduce the stress associated with wandering behavior.

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco is urging parents to call his office to learn more about its Project Lifesaver initiative.

Project Lifesaver is a countywide emergency response locator service used to find those who wander and become lost.

Participants wear a personalized one ounce battery operated transmitter bracelet which gives off a tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day.

The transmitters are smaller than a quarter and each one has its own unique frequency.

In addition, the Sheriff’s Project Lifesaver personnel are specially trained, not only in search and rescue with the use of the electronic tracking equipment, but also in the methods necessary to communicate with a person who has a cognitive impairment such as Autism, or other mental challenges.

“If you or someone you know could benefit from this lifesaving technology, we urge you to call us for more information. It could literally save a life,” DeMarco said.

To be eligible for Project Lifesaver, participants must be a resident of Suffolk County and have a cognitive impairment diagnosis that is confirmed by a physician.

For more information about the program, visit www.suffolksheriff.com, or call the Sheriff’s Office at (631) 852-3003.

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