Project Lifesaver, a tracking technology used to locate locate people who wander away from home, helped find a missing man in Limestone County Tuesday morning.
Limestone County Sheriff’s deputies used the technology to find an Alzheimer’s patient who had walked nearly a mile away from his residence this morning and was lying in a ditch off the roadway with minor injuries.
The 77-year old man was reported missing about 7:30 Tuesday morning from his home on Mooresville Road by his wife, who told deputies that he was gone when she woke up.
The victim was a participant in the Project Lifesaver program, which consists of a tracking bracelet worn by the patient and mobile receivers that are kept at the sheriff’s office and deployed in patrol vehicles. The program is offered free of charge to Limestone County residents who have Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or other similar conditions. It is funded by the senior citizens advisory council for sheriff’s and chiefs of police, TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors And Law enforcement Together).
After deploying the receivers near the victim’s home, deputies quickly located him about three quarters of a mile away in a deep ditch that was about 100 feet off the roadway. The victim was conscious and responsive and had minor facial injuries. He was transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital.
“I’m very pleased with the job our deputies did,” said Sheriff Mike Blakely. “This could have been a lot worse, but thankfully it ended with the victim safely reunited with his family. I’m also glad the victim was a participant in our Project Lifesaver program. Without it, the search could have taken hours. It’s very important that people know this program is available, especially if they have loved ones with conditions that cause them to wander off.”
Source: Limestone County Sheriff’s Office
