A five-year-old boy with autism drowned after wandering from his Port St. Lucie home, prompting discussions about Project Lifesaver, a wristband designed to prevent such incidents.According to police, Zam Tuang walked away from his home around 7 p.m. Monday and was later found in a nearby pond.”Frustration and sadness,” said Gene Saunders.Saunders is the founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver, a product he believes could have saved Zam’s life.It’s been around since 1999, but is still not widely known.”We’ve been told we’re a well-kept secret,” Saunders said. Project Lifesaver is a wristband designed for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or children with autism.It sends out a radio signal, allowing wearers to be tracked if they become lost. “They wear a radio transmitter on their wrist. They wear it 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Saunders said. “If you were wearing it and you got lost, I would know what the frequency is in your transmitter. I’d tune to that frequency. I’d pick up that signal and track right to you.” Saunders said that in its 27 years, Project Lifesaver has a 100 percent success rate, with more than 5,000 rescues, nearly all completed in less than 30 minutes. The program collaborates with law enforcement across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and is available to everyone.Saunders said he wishes everybody knew about it.”I guess it’s a frustration why we can’t protect more and keep these things from happening,” he said.More information on Project Lifesaver and how to get one is on their website.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
A five-year-old boy with autism drowned after wandering from his Port St. Lucie home, prompting discussions about Project Lifesaver, a wristband designed to prevent such incidents.
According to police, Zam Tuang walked away from his home around 7 p.m. Monday and was later found in a nearby pond.
“Frustration and sadness,” said Gene Saunders.
Saunders is the founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver, a product he believes could have saved Zam’s life.
It’s been around since 1999, but is still not widely known.
“We’ve been told we’re a well-kept secret,” Saunders said.
Project Lifesaver is a wristband designed for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or children with autism.
It sends out a radio signal, allowing wearers to be tracked if they become lost.
“They wear a radio transmitter on their wrist. They wear it 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Saunders said. “If you were wearing it and you got lost, I would know what the frequency is in your transmitter. I’d tune to that frequency. I’d pick up that signal and track right to you.”
Saunders said that in its 27 years, Project Lifesaver has a 100 percent success rate, with more than 5,000 rescues, nearly all completed in less than 30 minutes.
The program collaborates with law enforcement across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and is available to everyone.
Saunders said he wishes everybody knew about it.
“I guess it’s a frustration why we can’t protect more and keep these things from happening,” he said.
More information on Project Lifesaver and how to get one is on their website.