Safety Services & Programs
Project Lifesaver – Berks County Sheriffs
Project Lifesaver is a proactive electronic tracking program used to assist in locating people with Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, and other cognitive disorders who wander from home and become lost. A person with a cognitive disorder who wanders away and becomes lost constitutes a critical emergency and presents challenges to law enforcement in search and rescue operations. While we cannot predict when a person becomes lost, we can prepare for it.
Big Red Safety Box – National Autism Association
The National Autism Association is committed to those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who may be prone to wandering off or eloping from a safe environment, and may be unable to recognize danger and/or stay safe. Wandering, elopement, “running” or fleeing behaviors among those within our community not only present unique safety risks, but also create extraordinary worry and stress among caregivers. Drowning fatalities following wandering incidents remain a leading cause of death among those with ASD. As such, the National Autism Association provides direct assistance to caregivers, educators and first responders. The Big Red Safety Box is a free-of-charge toolkit given to autism families in need as a means to educate, raise awareness and provide simple tools that may assist them in preventing, and responding to, wandering-related emergencies.