PC CERT - Project Lifesaver

Audio provided by PC CERT's Public Health and Public Engagement Unit Leader, Brian Williams. 

Putnam County CERT is proud to be rolling out Project Lifesaver, a first-of-its-kind program for Putnam County. While this program is a first for our community, it has existed nationwide since 1999, when it was first founded in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Project Lifesaver is a not-for-profit organization, providing emergency response teams with the tools to quickly locate those who are prone to wandering off, such as a child with autism or an elderly adult with dementia. For a small fee, your loved one is provided an electronic bracelet or anklet. Should they ever become lost; individuals trained by Project Lifesaver can utilize radio waves to locate your loved one.

According to Project Lifesaver, agencies who utilize this technology are 95% faster at locating someone wearing a lifesaver device. Agencies, like Putnam County CERT, are trained how to use the device and its locating program as well innovative search and rescue methods and the cognitive conditions that cause some individuals to wander off more often.

If you have questions about the program or would like to volunteer for CERT, you can contact the Putnam County CERT team on their Facebook page at facebook.com/PutnamCountyINCERT, emailing Chief Sarah Owen at chief@pccert.org, or by visiting one of their monthly meetings, held the second Monday of each month, 7:00 pm at the Putnam County EOC, located at 1600 W CO RD 225 S.