HighLight the Rescue
On April 18, 2012 around 11pm members from the Stafford County Virginia Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver team were notified by a caretaker’s facility that an 89-year-old man with Dementia had gone missing. He was last seen exiting the facility around 8:45pm. Prior to notifying the search and rescue units, facility caretakers attempted two searches for the elderly man but could not find him.
Upon arrival, the Stafford County Virginia Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver team, assisted by Stafford Volunteer Search and Rescue, Fairfax County Police Aviation Unit, and Virginia Airborne Search and rescue, began their search, unfortunately, no signal was being detected by the ground units. At that point, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver team requested support from the Fairfax County Police Aviation Unit and the Virginia Airborne Search and Rescue team to assist in the search.
Deputy Hamilton, the Project Lifesaver coordinator for the Stafford County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, was then informed that the client’s original bracelet had been replaced and that the new frequency had not yet been updated in the client’s addendum. Once the new frequency was tuned into the tracking devices the man was found within 15 minutes. He was in a densely wooded area about 75 yards from the facility and a ¼ mile from water. The client was unharmed and “was waiting to be found.”
A helpful tip recommended by First Sgt. Reed was if a bracelet is replaced make sure the most recent frequency is immediately added to the client’s addendum to avoid any confusion.
At the “End of the Day” it was a great job by all involved in making this rescue successful.
Thank you First Sgt. C.W. Reed and Deputy Hamilton for contributing to this week’s “Highlight the Rescue”. If any other member agency would like to be part of our next section please email information to Elizabeth Kappes, at ekappes@projectlifesaver.org.