As awareness grows around autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dementia, so does concern about wandering, also known as elopement. According to recent data, approximately 1 in 31 U.S. children aged 8 are identified with ASD, and nearly 49% of children with autism attempt to wander from safe environments. Additionally, up to 60% of individuals living with dementia will wander at least once. These situations can quickly become life-threatening, particularly given that if a missing individual is not found within 24 hours, there is up to a 30% risk of injury or death.

Project Lifesaver is a proven tracking system designed to locate children and adults with conditions such as autism, dementia, or Down syndrome who are at risk of wandering. Traditional searches can take hours or even days; however, with this technology, the average recovery time is reduced to just 20–30 minutes, with a 100% success rate in locating individuals. While outcomes are not always guaranteed to be favorable, rapid location significantly increases the chance of a safe recovery.

To effectively participate in Project Lifesaver operations, CSAR must acquire two receiver units (“wands”) and complete the required training. The total cost for this equipment and training is $6,000. As a small, donation-funded nonprofit, we are not seeking full funding from a single source. However, any contribution toward this goal would directly enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively in missing person cases and ultimately help save lives.

Our dedicated professional volunteers include a Family Liaison Unit, Ground Team, and K9 Unit. Our K9s are certified in tracking and locating human remains, and this team trains more than 1,000 hours each year to maintain operational readiness. We never charge for our services and only deploy when contacted by law enforcement.

Thank you for your support!!!!