East Pikeland Offers New Program to Help Caregivers

A few weeks ago, the East Pikeland Police Department told one of its officers to get lost—literally.

The exercise was part of a two-and-a-half day training for Project Lifesaver, a new program that Officer Ken Smith hopes will provide peace of mind to some area residents.

Geared toward those with special needs, Project Lifesaver provides wristbands that can help find people who may wander away, sometimes leading to lengthy searches by police and also to potentially dangerous situations.

East Pikeland Police noticed a recurring issue in the area with people going missing. The township has an aging population, and some children with special needs are getting older and may become disoriented and stray from home.

“We want to be able to locate them as soon as possible,” Smith said.

He saw a need and began searching online for options that would work in the township. Project Lifesaver fit the bill, and the township secured a federal grant of $4,750 to cover equipment, programming and training. The initiative has led to the rescue of 2,493 people nationwide since its inception in April 1999, and the average time it takes for a rescue is about half an hour, Smith said.

“Not only does it save the township money, it saves frustration, worry and concern for the person who may be providing care,” Smith said.

Caregivers can call the East Pikeland Police Department at 610-935-0606 and ask for Smith or Sgt. Susette Wilson. Their loved ones will then be fitted with a transmitter device, which does have a cost associated with it. The device is worn around the wrist and when the police department receives notice that a person has gone missing, they can use the watch-like transmitter to track them down.

Caregivers will have to check the batteries in the transmitter twice a day with a simple swipe-over tester and the batteries will be replaced at the police station every 30 days. The transmitter can only be removed by authorized officials. 

The transmitter will also work if the wearer goes on vacation and the police department where they are visiting participates in Project Lifesaver, according to Smith. The popularity of Project Lifesaver is spreading, he said. East Pikeland is the first township in Chester County to use the program, but he thinks it may catch on locally.

To prepare for Project Lifesaver’s implementation, officers participated in training exercises during the last week of February. An officer was given a location to go to that remained a secret to others. He wore one of the devices and participated in five different drills, staying within the borders of East Pikeland Township but heading out a good distance at times. Those in training worked to track him down using the transmitter.

“I think the average search time was 27 minutes,” Smith said.

Now, all East Pikeland officers will be trained on how to use Project Lifesaver, and if other area departments are interested, the program can expand with the help of those officers, who can now train others on how to use the devices and software.

The program is open to East Pikeland residents and Smith said that if other nearby caregivers, such as those in Phoenixville Borough or Schuylkill Township, want to get involved, police may be able to get them on board as well.

He stressed that Project Lifesaver is geared solely toward those individuals with special needs, people who may be endangered if they wander away and those who have a tendency to stray from home due to disabilities. 

Smith hopes caregivers will embrace the program and that it will be a success in East Pikeland Township.

“We decided it would be a good fit for East Pikeland,” he said.

For more information on Project Lifesaver, visit www.projectlifesaver.org. For information on the program locally or to find out how to get involved, contact East Pikeland Police at 610-935-0606 and ask for Officer Smith or Sgt. Wilson.