York Regional Police's Project Lifesaver a beacon of hope for families of those deemed high risk

Using Radio-Frequency (RF) technology, Project Lifesaver is helping locate people with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s and autism

Yorkregion.com
March 13, 2023
Brian Capitao

The thought of a missing child is the scariest thought possible for a lot of parents.

But a small wristband may be a beacon of hope for those with loved ones who are considered high-risk.

For Sabrina Celenza, the Project Lifesaver transmitter inside a wristband that her son wears, helped lift a weight off her shoulders. She and her husband Anthony no longer have to constantly worry about their son Fabrizio who has been considered a red-flag risk.

Fabrizio has autism and A.D.H.D., but at first glance looks like any other nine-year-old boy. It wasn’t until an incident at school where he ran away did the Celenza’s consider the device.

“He actually ran one time out and the teacher didn't even know he actually took off,” said Anthony Celenza.

That scare made the Celenza’s take extra precautions. Short on money, they were in a tight spot until their father-in-law helped pay for the device.

It’s a one-time fee of $399 USD for the device, according to the Celenzas. That comes out to a little more than $500 Canadian.

But they can’t put a price on peace of mind. Now the Celenzas are trying to bring awareness to Project Lifesaver and autism, more broadly.

“It was a sense of relief when Sabrina found out about Project Lifesaver and got him the bracelet,” said neighbour Tina Conte. “The fact that they are able to locate if anything were to happen is a sense of relief for the family.”

It’s something that Conte thinks should go beyond York Region.

“I think it would make them even more comfortable and at ease that their child would be safe if it was all over within Ontario, to start. I think all the regions have got to get together and get this thing going,” added Conte.

Speaking with the Vaughan Citizen, Sabrina Celenza explained how Fabrizio has become a brand ambassador for the program, even meeting with dignitaries to bring awareness to autism and Project Lifesaver.

The device itself, according to York Regional Police, uses Radio-Frequency (RF) technology as opposed to a GPS system.

Six people were successfully located in York Region between 2021 and 2022 as a result of Project Lifesaver, according to the YRP.

“The York Regional Police Project Lifesaver program combines radio technology with a co-ordinated police response to locate wandering and disoriented loved ones due to Alzheimer's, autism or other conditions or disorders. Radio Frequency (RF) locating technology includes an RF transmitter worn by the individual who is prone to wandering and an antenna which receives signals from the transmitter,” said the YRP.

The parameters to be included in the program are that the person must not be able to operate a vehicle, not be involved in unescorted activities that increase the risk of wandering, reside in York Region, reside with a caregiver or in the non-secure section of a facility, be monitored by a caregiver and be living with a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s, autism, dementia, or another cognitive impairment that increases their chance of wandering.

“We encourage anyone caring for a vulnerable person who meets the criteria to engage with the program, to look it up and see if it might be a good fit,” said Const. Laura Nicolle, media relations officer with the York Regional Police.

“It’s been a proven useful method for officers locating missing people quickly,” she said.

The original program started in the United States in Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999 with the intention of finding people with dementia and Alzheimer’s as autism was yet to be fully understood the way it is today, according to Paul Ballance, chief of operations for Project Lifesaver International.

“With the dramatic increase of cognitive conditions since the inception of the organization, the program has grown from a localized program to a program recognized internationally as a proven and effective method of ‘bringing loved ones home,’" said Ballance.