Safetynet a time-saving tracking tool
Once a child, always a child.
To our parents, that will always be the case, no matter how old we are.
But as our parents age, those children become the ones burdened with the responsibility of ensuring their safety, and able to remain in the familiar surroundings of their own home.
Falls brought on by frailty — and the serious physical injuries they cause — constitute both a senior citizen’s and loved one’sworst nightmare.
Fortunately, measures alerting family and first responders to falls and other accidents have proliferated to meet the demand of an aging population.
For example, the National Council on Aging has selected what it considers the top six medical alert systems, brands including Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, Lifefone, ADT Health, Lifeline andmedical Alert.
There’s even a wrist watch called the Kanega Watch, which in the case of a fall or another physically compromising situation, immediately connects to a U.s.-based response operator who knows the wearer’s name, address, location, emergency contacts and other key information.
However, that elderly safety net has its holes, especially when it comes to loved ones with cognitive disabilities.
For families in that situation, their worst fears become reality when that person wanders off and gets lost.
However, backed by “new” tracking technology that’s been around for six decades, that frantic search can be successfully concluded in a matter of minutes.
That’s what transpired recently after an 80-year-old Chelmsford woman with dementia went missing near Technology Drive the morning of Jan. 12. When she wasn’t located after nearly an hour, Chelmsford police stepped in to help her family locate her.
That’s when police discovered the woman’s family participates in the Safetynet program, in which an at-risk individual wears a tracking bracelet on their wrist or ankle. Police then use their own technology to find the bracelet, which emits a radio frequency signal that identifies the specific location of its user.
While Chelmsford police searched the nearby area, with officers Shawn Brady and Dave Leo operating the Safetynet tracking devices, the department requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Airwing and the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Regional Response Team.
First responders usually initiate a search at themissing person’s last known location. Then they the conduct the search, either in a vehicle equipped with an antenna that can track the bracelet and its wearer, or on foot, with a handheld device.
In this case, the two officers followed the tracking signal to a condo complex on Technology Drive, where Officer Brady found themissing woman seated in the back of a car.
That occurred before either the Airwing or Regional Response Team arrived, probably saving the town the thousands of dollars it would have cost for a conventional missing-person search.
It’s unclear when exactly the elderly woman was found, but police indicated it takes roughly half an hour to find a missing person through Safetynet.
That’s also the amount of time the creator of the product, Safetynet Tracking Systems, also estimate it takes.
After an evaluation on scene, the womanwas reunited with her family.
The Safetynet system, which the Chelmsford Police adopted last summer, is free for town residents. Founded in 2010, it’s designed to assist those with cognitive impairments, including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and autism.
Currently, nine Chelmsford officers with the force are trained to use Safetynet, which is said “to be more effective than GPS,” particularly when tracking through buildings, shallow water, basements and “densely wooded areas,” according to a press release. The department purchased several bracelets in August.
The Tyngsboro Police Department also has installed its Home Safe program, which included the Safetynet system, in July 2021. The Boston Police Department also partnered with Safetynet Tracking Systems in March 2021.
It’s easy to understand why the Safetynet system has become a key law-enforcement tool in at least 18 states.
Anyone in Chelmsford and Tyngsboro with cognitively challenged adults in their care would be wise to contact their respective police departments about this program.
Chelmsford residents can email Officer Matthew Fernald at mfernald@chelmsfordma. gov, or call 978-256-2521 ext. 301. Officer Shawn Brady will also field requests at sbrady@ chelmsfordma.gov and 978256-2521 ext. 275.
Other local police departments may employ similar search programs.
If not, we’d suggest contacting Safeynet Tracking Systems.