Program designed to keep vulnerable individuals safe comes to Collingwood, The Blue Mountains

A track and search tool used to locate vulnerable individuals who often wonder from home will now be available in Collingwood and The Blue Mountains.

Project lifesaver was first started locally in 2018 after the remains of 72-year-old Mandy Thompson were found nearly a year after she wandered away from her home. 

OPP Const. Martin Hachey says the technology is proven to be effective, and has since helped to locate seniors and those living with cognitive disabilities.

"It's been used for a number of years. It's the same technology utilized in the black boxes of airliners to locate the black box after something tragic happens,” said Hachey.

With Project Lifesaver, the individual wears a bracelet that transmits a signal to police who then use a receiver that captures the individual’s last location.

“We have different antennas we can use as well, based on how far the person has wandered, how long ago it was that we saw them, and, again, it makes it a much easier process to locate a person,” said Hachey.

OPP in Collingwood are working in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society Simcoe County, which will help to facilitate the program that is already being offered in Barrie and other nearby communities.

“Collingwood and The Blue Mountains is another area where we know we're surrounded by water, outdoors, and beautiful space. But sometimes that space is ones where we can lose loved ones,” said Ann-Marie Kungl with the Alzheimer’s Society Simcoe County. “So this is a really unique type of technology that helps to have a very timely response.”

The OPP say the program is now fully functional in Collingwood and The Blue Mountains, and it is accepting registrations.

Anyone interested in registering a loved one for the program can do so by contacting the Alzheimer's Society of Simcoe County.

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