From left, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid, Vienna Volunteer Fire Department member Joan Dempsey and Lt. Jason Travis. Photo contributed
The Auxiliary to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department donated $1,500 to the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office for its Project Lifesaver program. The program serves the needs of children on the autism spectrum and adults with cognitive impairments who may wander away from their caregivers.
Project Lifesaver clients wear a wrist or ankle band that emits a silent tracking signal. When caregivers notify the Sheriff’s Office that a client is missing, specially-trained sheriff’s deputies respond to the area with state-of-the-art tracking equipment. The program currently has 67 clients with 35 more on the waiting list.
Costs for Project Lifesaver include the transmitters for each client; the wrist or ankle band to which the transmitter is attached; the battery for each transmitter, which must be changed every 60 days; and the receiver that the Sheriff’s Office uses to track the transmitter’s signal.
"Project Lifesaver is funded entirely by donations," said Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. "We are very grateful for the support from organizations like the Auxiliary to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. These funds will enable us to purchase new or updated equipment and support more clients from the waiting list"
To learn more about Project Lifesaver, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/sheriff/lifesaver.htm.