FROM STAFF REPORTS

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was notified by 911 that an 80-year-old family member was missing from a residence on River Road, near the city of Helena.

This resident was a member of the “Project Lifesaver” program, so specially trained Shelby County deputies responded to the area where she was last seen and activated the “Project Lifesaver” system.

The area is un-incorporated and very rural with several bodies of water near by.

“Project Lifesaver” equipment led deputies straight to the resident, approximately three quarters of a mile in the woods from the last known location.

Indian Ford Fire and Rescue treated the patient at the scene for dehydration before being released back to family members in good health.

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego would like to thank all of those who helped in this search and rescue, as well as those who made this program possible.

“Yesterday, we had another success story as a result of law enforcement partnerships, the public’s support and Project Lifesaver,” said Samaniego. “Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies, local police officers, firemen and many other groups come together when a loved one wanders and, with the help of Project Lifesaver, are able to locate the missing. It is also important to recognize the Shelby County Commission, the private companies and local residents who have continued to help in funding this program. It takes support at every level and we are lucky to have that”.

Project Lifesaver International was founded by public safety officers themselves, to bring about a solution that facilitates not just the speedy return of wanderers to their families, but the actual rapid location of the wanderers themselves — a strategy that greatly increases the chance that the wanderer will be found alive.

Our “Project Lifesaver” team encompasses specially trained deputies that place personalized wristbands containing radio transmitters on individuals who suffer from debilitating disease or autism to locate them should they wander away from home.

Search times for those participating in the program have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has been an active participant in this program since 2005.

For more information on this program, the public may visit the Sheriff’s Office website at Shelbyso.com and click on the “Project Lifesaver” tab or visit Project Lifesaver International at Projectlifesaver.org .The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office “Project Lifesaver” team is affiliated with “Project Lifesaver” International.