A fortunate find in Cape Coral means a 93-year-old man is reunited with his family.
Cape Coral police report an older man with health issues left his southwest Cape Coral home around 4 a.m. Sunday. He was seen on surveillance video in only his tank top and pajama shorts.
Family members notified CCPD of his disappearance around 7 a.m. A police aid eventually spotted the man on Agualinda Boulevard. The 93-year-old had fallen into a construction site and couldn't get up.
CCPD is urging people who have loved ones who wander to enroll in Project Lifesaver. Since its inception, this program has reunited more than 4,300 people with their loved ones across the nation.
"I know that the average time it takes to track down someone is less than 30 minutes. So really, in a situation where minutes, seconds even count, this is something that's really important to have just to keep your loved ones safe," said Lisa Greenberg, public affairs officer at CCPD. "So really, any bit of technology or anything that can help us in tracking down someone as quickly and efficiently as possible is going to be key."
Project Lifesaver involves the person fastening on a wristband that would allow law enforcement to track them using radio frequencies in case of an emergency. This could be helpful for older people, people with autism, or dementia, among others.
There is a $300 initial cost to get involved, with a bi-monthly maintenance fee of $10. However, CCPD reports that people donate specifically toward this program. They have a waiting list for people who need financial assistance.
The wristband is checked every 60 days to ensure everything is working properly.