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New Service That Helps Police Find and Rescue People Who Wander Now Available in Boston

Press Release 01/26/2011

New Service That Helps Police Find and Rescue People Who Wander Now Available in Boston
SafetyNet™ Tracking Will Help Protect Boston Residents with Autism and Alzheimer's from the Dangers of Wandering
Boston, MA - January 26, 2011 -  

SafetyNet™, Inc., today announced at a press conference that its SafetyNet™ service is now available in the city of Boston.  SafetyNet Tracking helps caregivers provide an added layer of protection for loved ones with cognitive conditions such as autism and Alzheimer’s from the life-threatening behavior of wandering.  The service also provides public safety agencies with the tools and training to more effectively find and rescue those individuals if they wander and go missing.

The Boston Police Department has been trained and certified on the SafetyNet™ service, as well as equipped with search and rescue equipment.  The department can now use the SafetyNet™ service to find and rescue people at risk who go missing.  SafetyNet™ eliminates the countless man-hours that can be required in traditional search and rescue operations.

“In Massachusetts, statistics show that there are approximately 10,000 school aged children with autism and an estimated 120,000 people with Alzheimer’s.  We’re very proud to offer this service, which can provide caregivers with additional peace of mind about protecting their loved ones,” said Kathy Kelleher, Vice President, SafetyNet™, Inc. Boston joins the growing list of Massachusetts’ communities that now offer the SafetyNet™ service.   SafetyNet™ has already rescued residents in other parts of the state—and country, including the dramatic rescue of an eight-year-old boy in Quincy, Mass. who had wandered into the ocean and was rescued by local police in just 14 minutes using SafetyNet™’s tracking equipment.”

To bring this valuable service to Boston, SafetyNet™ worked closely with the Boston Police Department.  SafetyNet™ provided 14 sets of electronic tracking systems to Boston police. In addition, SafetyNet™ officials and industry experts provided certified training for police officers in each of the 11 districts located in Boston on the use of its specialized equipment to find and rescue individual clients enrolled in the service.  The Search and Rescue Receivers, certified training and ongoing support are provided at no cost to the Boston Police Department or taxpayers.

How SafetyNet™ Works
Once caregivers enroll their loved ones in the service, they receive a SafetyNet™ Bracelet, which is worn by the person at risk typically on their wrist or ankle.  The caregiver provides information about the client to assist in search and rescue, which is then entered into a secure database.  SafetyNet™, Inc. provides 24x7 emergency caregiver support.

The SafetyNet™ Bracelet constantly emits a Radio Frequency signal.  Radio Frequency is the technology of choice because, unlike cellular and GPS technology, its signal doesn’t rely on cellular networks or satellite signals and can often be tracked when a client wanders into a shallow body of water, a densely wooded area, a concrete structure such as a garage, or a building constructed with steel.

The Search and Rescue Receivers used by public safety agencies can detect the Radio Frequency signal emitted from a SafetyNet™ Bracelet typically within a range of approximately one mile in on-the-ground searches and 5-7 miles in searches by helicopter.

The SafetyNet™ certified training for public safety agencies focuses on its specialized electronic equipment, technology, procedures and on how to effectively communicate with and approach individuals who have cognitive conditions.  SafetyNet™’s secure database contains information on each individual client enrolled in the service so that the search and rescue team can have information on the individual’s personal habits and how he or she should be approached, spoken to and comforted.

Resources for Caregivers
SafetyNet™ offers SafetyNetSource (www.safetynetsource.com),an online information and resource center designed to assist caregivers seeking tips on how to protect their loved ones who wander. SafetyNetSource offers compelling content from across the web, access to the SafetyNetSource Twitter feed and YouTube channel, a Facebook page to help caregivers communicate with one another and engage in a community of support, plus a variety of valuable resources for caregivers such as a form to distribute to the local first responders and neighbors that may be helpful in the event their loved one wanders.

Availability & More Information
For more information about SafetyNet™, please call (877) 4-FINDTHEM (877-434-6384) or visit safetynettracking.com.