The Guardian Radio Show w/ Chief Saunders

Chief Saunders, was the founder and serves as CEO of Project Lifesaver International, a non-profit organization that is committed to helping families quickly find their loved ones who wander because of Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, dementia, autism, and other cognitive conditions. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 60% of those with Alzheimer’s disease will wander at some point during the progression of their disease – and many will wander repeatedly. Additionally, according to a recent National Autism Association survey, nearly 92% of parents said they felt their autistic child was at risk of wandering. Over the next few years, the growing number of elderly individuals, as well as children being diagnosed with cognitive conditions, will continue to grow and place enormous physical, emotional, and financial pressure on a growing number of families and their communities. Formed from the ranks of the 43rd Virginia Search and Rescue of the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, Project Lifesaver trains agencies on how to search for individuals who become lost by utilizing search and rescue techniques and equipment, as well as how to interact with individuals once they are found to help facilitate a safe escort home. Clients enrolled in the program wear a small, wrist-watch sized radio transmitter than emits a radio tracking signal, and should the individual wander, public safety agencies are able to rapidly locate them. These efforts have drastically reduced search times for public safety officials, and they have helped find loved ones quicker and easier with an average search time of 30 minutes. To date, Project Lifesaver agencies have rescued over 2,000 cognitively impaired individuals successfully, with over 1,100 public safety agencies participating in 45 states, D.C., Canada and Australia.