Project Lifesaver

Project Lifesaver – Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

Project Lifesaver is a vital program that supports families and caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and similar cognitive conditions. People with these conditions often have a tendency to wander, putting them at risk of becoming lost or disoriented.

This program provides peace of mind by helping locate and safely return loved ones who go missing. It saves valuable time, manpower, resources—and most importantly, it saves lives.

In West Virginia alone, more than 47,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Of those, 60% are likely to wander, and 72% of those will do so repeatedly. If a person is missing for more than 24 hours, their chances of survival drop by 50%.

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office launched its Project Lifesaver initiative in April 2008, and since then, trained and certified law enforcement officers and civilian personnel have been working together to make this life-saving program available to our community.

How It Works:

Participants wear a special bracelet that emits a unique radio frequency. If a participant goes missing, trained responders use specialized equipment to locate the signal and bring them home safely.

• Minimal cost to families: Only a small monthly fee to cover battery replacement

• Fully supported by the Sheriff’s Office: Includes meeting with concerned family members and ongoing assistance

Interested in Enrolling a Loved One?

If you’re worried about a family member’s safety due to wandering, please contact us. We’re here to help.

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
Project Lifesaver
301 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
📞 (304) 357-0499

To learn more about the Project Lifesaver organization, please visit Project Lifesaver International.