LOCATING THE LOST
City launches SafetyNet tracking system program
“It saves lives. We have found people in minutes, kids hiding in closets, people lost in the woods, autistic people who ran away or wandered.”
– Ralph Poland, SafetyNet
LEOMINSTER » Mayor Dean Mazzarella is on a mission to provide SafetyNet tracking systems to individuals, families and caregivers of seniors, those with special needs, veterans with PTSD, people affected by autism and Alzheimer’s, and others who can benefit from the system that helps protect people and locate the lost.
“We will get as many as we need,” Mazzarella said, adding that the city is covering the cost. “We are getting it at the perfect time as SafetyNet is updating their equipment.”
SafetyNet launched a new model this past spring, replacing a medallion type tracker system that had garnered some negative feedback in recent years due to its appearance.
In addition to offering precision location technology through directional radio frequency, the sleek new black watch model also tells time, provides battery life info and shows the frequency of the tracking device itself.
“If a person is underground or in a tall building or heavily wooded or hiding, GPS cannot pinpoint them like radio frequency can,” said SafetyNet Vice President of Operations Ralph Poland, a retired Marshfield Police officer.
Poland said that when a 911 call comes in, dispatchers can go into the SafetyNet database and find the name and medical and other history of the person who is lost or wandering.
“They usually go to where they worked or lived,” he said. “Caretakers should know frequency of the tracking system, but in panic mode they may not remember. They can push a button and it comes up on the device.”
Poland gave a demonstration of the SafetyNet system at the Leominster Fire Department on Wednesday, hooking up an antenna to the tracking system.
“It starts to eliminate area around,” Poland said of the pings and sounds heard. He said the search area covered on the ground with a handheld antenna is one mile — from a helicopter, such as a State Police chopper, it is five to seven miles.
Mazzarella, along with fire and police personnel, watched as “lost” Leominster Fire Department acting Lt. Vincent Alia, who was wearing a SafetyNet watch, was located out on the street within minutes, which was captured by a Leominster Access Television crew.
“It saves lives,” Poland said. “We have found people in minutes, kids hiding in closets, people lost in the woods, autistic people who ran away or wandered.”
Poland rattled off some impressive statistics about the tracking system. There have been over 960 search and rescue calls since SafetyNet was launched in 2008 — all the people involved were found, and no one died.
He said the average search time is under 30 minutes, and often closer to 15 or 20 minutes.
“If there is water close by or cold weather, we need to move fast,” said firefighter/EMT Rick Cormier, who handles information technology for the department.
Poland said SafetyNet is in 26 states and that it has “complete, full coverage” in Massachsuetts and Connecticut with a series of fire departments and state police all connected by a Boston call center.
“It saves agencies thousands of dollars in search and rescue costs,” he said.
He told several success stories about the tracking system helping to locate lost individuals, including a disoriented World War II veteran who was hiding from Germans behind a heating system in a basement, and an elderly Plymouth couple who got their car stuck two miles deep into the woods and were missing for hours.
“When someone finally called 911 to report them missing, the State Police helicopter picked up the signal in 15 minutes,” Poland said of the couple.
Mazzarella said they have had residents get lost in the state forest overnight and autistic people running away from or wandering from group homes, and that the tracking system will help to locate people in situations like this.
“It always seems to be when the sun is going down,” he said.
SafetyNet provides first responders and assisted living staff with training and understanding of cognitive conditions, giving them the tools needed to respond to an elopement,
‘It saves agencies thousands of
dollars in search and rescue costs.’
– Ralph Poland, Safey Net vice president of operations
and to assess and effectively manage the safe and comfortable return of an eloped client.
“Every one of our members have been trained,” said Fire Department Deputy Chief Craig Long, “so no matter who is on duty they know how to use the system.”
Poland said SafetyNet can and has been used for reverse saves, where a first responder or someone else comes across an unresponsive person and with the push of a button connects them to the SafetyNet database which provides their information including medical history. In addition, SafetyNet is working on updating the tracking system with a blue tooth mechanism, which would set off a notification if someone walks out a door that is connected to the system.
“They could use the blue tooth in assisted living facilities,” Cormier said.
Fire Chief Robert Sideleau said the tracking system will help them locate lost or wandering individuals faster, and that when it comes to emergency situations, minutes count.
“Leominster is big in area,” he said.
Sideleau wants to remind people to call 911 as soon as possible if something is wrong or someone is in danger or missing.
“That is what we are here for, it’s our job,” he said. “You should call 911 immediately when you know someone is missing.”
Mazzarella and Long echoed those sentiments.
“Calling right away is key,” Long said.
Mazzarella added, “We tend to wait too long as parents and caregivers to make that phone call. People think that they are bothering the fire department.”
The cost for one SafetyNet system is a $150 fee up front and then $25 a month, but those receiving one from the city will not have to pay a cent. Poland estimates the cost of the 10 units the city initially purchased to give out is about $4,000, which Mazzarella said the city is paying for.
“We have some money we can use for it,” he said.
“I gotta give it to the mayor for coming up with this program,” Poland said. “The requirements are that someone has to have 24/7 care, no access to a vehicle, and if they use public transportation someone goes with them.”
Mazzarella said they are happy to help provide the tracking system to those who can benefit from it, providing peace of mind for families and caregivers, especially those who deal with wanderers.
“We will get as many as we need,” he said. “This is important to us as a community. We want people to get out and not be locked in their house afraid.”
To request a SafetyNet tracking device call the Leominster Fire Department at 978-534-7542 and ask for Rick Cormier, or fill out an application at the mayor’s office in city hall. For more information visit https:// safetynettracking.com.