Project Lifesaver, a program that assists first responders in locating vulnerable neighbors, is now being implemented by an increasing number of agencies in Southwest Iowa. Glenwood was the first, however, when an elderly person with dementia died after wandering away from her home.
- Dan Kammerer, a Glenwood police officer, manages the project for Mills County. “It is really hard on a small town when somebody goes missing.”
- Neighbors with disabilities who tend to wander or elope can wear a watch-sized bracelet. It emits a unique radio signal and does not rely on GPS.
- “God forbid that something happens—someone accidentally takes their eye off of him and he wanders,” said Lizzy, a Glenwood mother whose five-year-old son has autism.
- The Glenwood Police Department still has bracelets available for Mills County residents.
- The Jullia Rose Foundation initially funded the program, which is still supported by grants and donations today.
I am Katrina Markel from Glenwood, and I am here because a few members of the community contacted me about a program called Project Lifesaver. It is a program designed to keep children and adults with certain disabilities safe.
Mills County’s project is managed by Glenwood Police Officer Dan Kammerer. It was a first for Southwest Iowa. He began the program after a Glenwood woman with dementia went missing and died before being discovered.
Neighbors with disabilities who tend to wander or elope can wear a watch-sized bracelet. It emits a unique radio signal.
If the person goes missing, first responders can track down their location.
“God forbid that something happens—someone accidentally takes their eye off of him and he wanders,” said Lizzy, a Glenwood mother whose five-year-old son has autism.
The bracelet gives her peace of mind because she knows her child can be found. And because it is a radio signal, it cannot be tracked online.
Lizzy: “I was hesitant at first, to be honest. I did not completely understand how the program worked.”
Kammerer responded: “…You connect this and you turn it on and it is almost like hot potato.”
Katrina Markel: “I have the bracelet here. I am going to the other side of the park, and Officer Kammerer will come find me with his equipment.”
A caregiver can provide the frequency number to police, who will follow a beeping noise to locate the person. The radio receiver has a range of approximately a mile and a half.
Katrina: “Well, you found me.”
Kammerer concurs: “I think a lot more agencies around should implement it, especially considering what happens if somebody goes missing and you do not have the program in place.”
A Lincoln charity funds the Mills County program, which is free to participants. Neighbors can locate a participating agency at projectlifesaver.org.