NORTH ANDOVER — Rory Callahan is a 7-year-old kid with lots of energy and a tendency to wander. Two years ago that wandering took him out the first-floor window of his home and into a rainy September night, sparking a police search.
Rory was found, but he left his parents with an uneasy feeling it could happen again.
That’s what prompted his mom, Maureen, to sign up for Project Lifesaver, a program that fits people with special needs, including kids with autism like Rory, with bracelets or anklets that have a radio frequency tracking device.
“When I talk about my children, they are the most precious thing in my life,” said Callahan of North Andover. “Having gone through that experience, having the bracelet means knowing that I have a safeguard if all else fails.”
Callahan signed up for the program through Andover’s Police Department, and now North Andover is raising money to also have the program.
Callahan said the device is not a baby sitter, but extra security. Someone is with Rory at all times, and the house has extra locks and bars on the doors.
The program is meant for people who have a tendency to wander, including those with autism, Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. When someone using the bracelet gets lost, the caregiver calls the police, who have receivers that can pick up the radio frequency signal sent from the bracelet in a 2-mile radius. Police walk in the direction of the signal until they reach the person.
Police Chief Richard Stanley told selectmen the program can save valuable search time and money for the Police and Fire departments. The average search time for people with the bracelets is 22 minutes. Without the bracelets, searches can take hours and involve many officers.
Stanley said searches using the regional North East Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council have used as many as 160 officers out in the woods at one time.
Fire Chief William Martineau said it’s critical to find people fast, especially during winter when they can get hypothermia.
“The first 20 minutes are extremely important,” Martineau said.
The Andover Police Department hasn’t been called out on a search yet, but seven officers are trained to search in case they get a call.
Participants lease the bracelets for a one-time fee of $300 and then pay $10 a month for batteries. Organizations donate money to defray the cost for people who can’t afford the bracelets.
Sgt. John Pathiakis in Andover said the program has been successful with eight people on it, ranging in age from 7 years old to 81 years old and representing five surrounding communities.
“It gives the caretakers a sense of security, a chance for them to breathe a little easier,” Pathiakis said.
North Andover police estimate the program will cost $7,100. Stanley is putting in a community policing grant for $3,000, but the Police Department and North Andover Commission on Disability Issues are looking for donations for the rest of the money to have the program in place by next October.
Money goes toward equipment and training for the officers. Once a person is fitted with a bracelet, the battery can be checked every day with a device at home and gets changed about once a month at the police station.
Bernadette Lionetta of Andover said that is a small inconvenience compared to the peace of mind the bracelet brings.
Her 9-year-old son, William, who has autism, is fitted with a bracelet.
“When you have a child or an adult that wanders, it is always first and foremost in your mind no matter what you are doing,” she said. “This gives me a sense of security, knowing that I am using every tool possible to keep my child safe.”
For more information on how to donate or about the program, contact Jim Lyons at jlyons@nilp.org or 978-687-4288.
Merrimack Valley
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ROGER DARRIGRAND
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Tracking devices give parents a sense of security
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