Project Lifesaver: A Program That Just Proved Why It Matters

Some public safety programs are designed for the moments you hope never come.

Recently, one of those moments did come, and Harrison firefighters were ready.

For nearly 15 years, the Harrison Fire Department has operated Project Lifesaver, a specialized program designed to help locate individuals who may wander and become lost. Until recently, most of that work happened through training and preparation. Last week, it became something more.

A real-world rescue.

Firefighters were called to assist in locating a missing 12-year-old enrolled in the program. The child had wandered away from a gymnastics facility in a busy commercial area during peak evening hours. Multiple agencies were already searching, including police, fire crews, and even a drone team.

But the child could not be seen.

Using Project Lifesaver equipment, Harrison firefighters began tracking a unique radio frequency assigned to the child. Within minutes of deploying the equipment, they picked up a signal and began narrowing the search.

They moved through parking lots, around large buildings, and into areas that blocked visibility and disrupted search efforts. The signal led them just under a quarter mile from where the child was last seen.

She was found hidden in brush and trees, an area that would not have been visible to drones or easily located through traditional search methods.

The entire search took approximately 20 minutes once tracking began.

Without the transmitter, firefighters said the outcome could have been very different.

Project Lifesaver is most often used for children with autism, especially those who are nonverbal, and for older adults living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Participants wear a small transmitter band that emits a radio signal. That signal allows trained responders to quickly move from a wide-area search to a targeted recovery.

Speed matters in these situations. Terrain, weather, and time can quickly increase risk. This program is designed to reduce that uncertainty.

Harrison’s program is also unique in its reach. Because few nearby communities have this equipment, the department often responds beyond city limits to assist when needed. In this case, that regional capability made a critical difference.

Equally important is the relationship built before an emergency ever happens.

Families enrolled in the program regularly visit the fire department for battery checks and maintenance. Those visits help children become familiar with firefighters and their uniforms, creating a sense of recognition and comfort if they are ever found during a stressful situation.

Fire officials say that connection, combined with fast action and the right tools, is what makes the program effective.

Enrollment in Project Lifesaver is available to families who believe they may benefit from the service. While there is a cost associated with equipment and maintenance, the department works with families to ensure the program remains accessible.

Families interested in learning more can contact Lt. Chris Gundrum at cgundrum@harrisonohio.gov.

Sometimes the value of a program is measured in preparation.

Sometimes it is measured in outcomes.

Last week, it was measured in a child safely returned home.

Capt. Michael Rimroth, officer in charge of the search