St. Thomas, ON – Monday April 28th 2025
Project Lifesaver Launches in Elgin County to Help Protect Vulnerable Individuals
The St. Thomas Police Service, in partnership with Victim Services Elgin, the Aylmer Police Service, and the Elgin OPP, is proud to announce the launch of Project Lifesaver—a proactive search and rescue initiative designed to help locate individuals who are prone to wandering due to cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, or other similar diagnoses.
Project Lifesaver utilizes specialized radio frequency technology and coordinated police response to significantly reduce the time it takes to locate missing persons. Participants in the program wear a small, battery-operated transmitter on their wrist or ankle, which emits a unique FM signal every second, 24 hours a day. When a caregiver reports their loved one missing, trained officers use specialized tracking equipment to quickly locate the individual.
This life-saving program has been proven to reduce search times by up to 95%, often locating individuals within 30 minutes. It offers peace of mind for caregivers, improves emergency response times, and emphasizes safety, dignity, and community support for some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“Project Lifesaver is a life-changing initiative. It allows us to respond faster, search smarter, and protect those at risk of becoming lost due to cognitive impairments” said Community Mobilization Officer – Tammy Voth.
How to Enroll:
If you are a caregiver and would like to learn more about eligibility or enrolling a loved one in Project Lifesaver, please contact Victim Services Elgin
Individuals, community organizations, and businesses can support Project Lifesaver by donating to help cover the cost of transmitters for families in need. Donations can be made through the Elgin-St. Thomas Community Foundation, under Project Lifesaver Elgin.
Project Lifesaver offers hope when every second counts—bringing loved ones home safely and giving families the peace of mind they deserve.
