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Police Training
Local Alzheimer's Association chapters provide family support and assistance, while police and other agencies conduct search and rescue efforts. Safe Return identification products are inscribed with the Safe Return 24-hour crisis number and alert others that the individual is memory-impaired and may need assistance.
In Connecticut, we are fortunate to be able to provide training for police departments through a grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety. Staff and volunteers are certified by POST (Police Officers Standards Training Council) and have trained over 5,000 law enforcement officials since 1997. Contact the statewide coordinator of the Safe Return program at (800) 356-5502 to schedule a training.
Since the inception of the Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return Program, a profile of wanderers has been complied. We now know that wanderers:
- go until they get stuck (including in the thickest brush, etc.)
- usually have a previous history of wandering
- commonly have coexisting medical problems that limit mobility
- are usually found within one to two miles of point last seen (PLS)
- are usually found a short distance from a road (33 yards median)
- will not cry out for help or respond to shouts of their name
- and may attempt to travel to a former residence, job site or a favorite place.
Suggested Search Techniques
Early use of trackers at point last seen (PLS) early use of tracking dogs at PLS and along roadways early deployment of air scent dog teams into drainages and streams, starting nearest PLS early deployment of hasty ground teams into drainages and streams nearest PLS thoroughly search the residence/nursing home and surrounding grounds and buildings; repeat every few hours cut for signs along roadways search heavy briars/bushes; remind field team leaders of this dog teams and ground sweep teams (in separate sectors) expanding from PLS Air scent dog teams and ground sweep teams task 100 yards (initially) parallel to roadways search nearby previous home sites and the region between home sites and PLS strong investigative effort throughout search.
Vision statement
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