FRISCO, Texas, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Through a
partnership between local citizens and the City of Torrance, Calif. Police Department,
impaired individuals, their family members and caregivers can now
enjoy added peace of mind and enhanced safety thanks to a new
wearable locator system called EmSeeQ®. Now available through the
City of Torrance PD Community Affairs Division, the watch-like
EmSeeQ device by EmFinders uses cellular technology to quickly
locate individuals in the event they become lost or wander off as a
result of cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, autism
and dementia.
Every year thousands of individuals become lost or intentionally
wander away, sometimes with tragic results. The ensuing search and
rescue can take days or even weeks, costing taxpayers thousands of
dollars and causing overwhelming anguish for the families of the
victims.
To prevent this kind of tragedy, EmSeeQ uses the nationwide
U-TDOA cellular technology to accurately and rapidly determine the
location of the device wearer, enabling rescuers to find him or her
quickly and reduce the risk of grave injury or even death.
Beginning immediately, free EmSeeQ bracelets will be available
for use by city residents with a diagnosed cognitive disorder
thanks to the fundraising efforts of former city councilwoman
Maureen O'Donnell. In less than three weeks, O'Donnell and several
other individuals secured enough donations to purchase the units,
making them available free of charge for Torrance residents in need.
The Torrance PD issues the devices; individual families are
responsible for registering them and paying the monthly
$25 fee for location services. The
program is modeled after the City of Long
Beach's Safe Reunion initiative.
"This is a great partnership between city residents and our
department to ensure the ongoing safety and security of individuals
who are at risk of wandering. You have heard me say it before,
keeping a community safe is based on the support and involvement of
the community," said Torrance
Police Chief John J. Neu. "Prior to
EmSeeQ, a search and rescue operation for a lost individual may
have taken hours or days, even with our resources, and with
coordinating mutual aid from our neighboring police departments.
EmSeeQ provides added peace of mind to residents and their
families, plus enables our public safety officials to launch a more
strategic and rapid response when a wandering emergency does occur.
Thanks to the generosity of those who've contributed to the
program, we can offer the devices for free and the service comes at
a very affordable price. I salute our Community Affairs department
for bringing in this new program, a great example of Focused Based
Policing."
EmFinders works directly with public safety access point (PSAP)
dispatchers to greatly reduce the search timeframe for a rescue
operation. The at-risk individual wears the bracelet 24/7 or as
needed, based on the unique situation. If the individual is missing
or has wandered off, the caregiver first performs a brief search.
Once an emergency situation is confirmed, the caregiver calls 911
to report the elopement and then contacts EmFinders to activate the
EmSeeQ device. The device places a call and provides its location
to 9-1-1 dispatchers who can then send assistance, as they do every
day for thousands of wireless 911 calls per month.
"With the incidence of Alzheimer's and autism disorders on the
rise, public safety organizations across the country are becoming
keenly aware of the need for an effective alternative to GPS and
other less reliable solutions," said EmFinders Vice President of
Sales Harry Smeenk. "The EmSeeQ
system has already proven effective with life-saving rescues in
California, Texas, Virginia and more, and we are pleased to offer
this valuable service to the residents of Torrance."
The EmSeeQ product is available in two different styles: a
watchband-type device with a traditional buckle, and a clasp-style
that requires two hands to remove for added security.
For more information about EmFinders' EmSeeQ emergency locator
system, please visit www.emfinders.com. Torrance residents interested in acquiring a
device or making a contribution toward the purchase of additional
units should contact Officer Chad
Farley with the Torrance PD Community Affairs Division at
310-328-3456.
About EmFinders
EmFinders, based in Frisco,
TX, is a new technology company that has developed a device
and subscription service for locating people with Alzheimer's or
other impaired adults and children who wander and become lost. The
wearable device and locator service uses advanced cellular
technology to locate lost individuals, even if they wander inside a
building, under a structure or just about anywhere. The device
becomes activated on remote command and the locator service works
in coordination with emergency responders. EmFinders is a privately
held subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the
Liberty Capital group (Nasdaq: LCAPA), which owns a broad range of
electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment
businesses. For more information, visit
www.emfinders.com.
SOURCE EmFinders