A lifesaving tool | Citrus Daily (EmSeeQ )

A lifesaving tool | Citrus Daily

It’s estimated that Alzheimer’s disease will afflict 590,000 Floridians by 2025. In addition to this debilitating condition, other cognitive disorders, such as dementia and autism, continue to be major challenges.

Sadly, because many of these individuals are prone to wandering, a missing person could easily die from exposure or other hazards without a quick recovery. This is a serious concern not only for the afflicted individual’s loved ones, but also for law enforcement.

Earlier this year, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy challenged his staff to come up with a viable solution for locating wanderers. After careful research, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office hooked up with EmFinders, the makers of a unique device called EmSeeQ (pronounced “Em seek”).

Essentially, it’s a small electronic locator device worn on the wrist. This watch-sized instrument has a secure band, which makes it virtually impossible for the wearer to remove.

If a person wearing EmSeeQ goes missing, the EmFinders emergency call center is notified by the wanderer’s caregiver, and the device is electronically activated. The unit then automatically calls the nearest 911 center, providing the wearer’s location based on coordinates calculated by using highly sensitive receivers located on cellular towers – the same receivers used by cell phones for 911 calls. Once the 911 center gets the wanderer’s location, emergency responders can be dispatched immediately.

More @ http://www.citrusdaily.com/lifesaving-tool/2011/11/18/89769.html