Global Excellence Awards 2018

140 Acquisition International - Global Excellence Awards 2018 30 Acquisition International - Issue 8 2018 by; Gene Saunders*, CEO & Founder Project Lifesaver International here are many individuals in this world who spend their whole life in search of a purpose; desperately seeking meaningful ways to make a difference in the world with the short amount of time they are given. I consider myself quite lucky though, I discovered my purpose early in life through a passion to serve and protect. “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” -Albert Schweitzer My career has brought me in many different directions throughout my life – from my service in the U.S. Military to my decorated career in law enforcement, I took on many different roles and ascended through the ranks to positions of leadership. Through it all, though, one thing always remained the same: my concern for others’ well being and my dedication to serve the fellow man. While at the time, it was unbeknownst to me, that my greatest achievement, potentially my true purpose, was yet to come. In 1999, while I was serving as Chief of Search and Rescue at the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, and after it became apparent that there was a void in a first responder’s ability to provide exceptional search, rescue, and protection to non-cognitive populations prone to elopement, I founded Project Lifesaver. The program was aimed at reducing the recovery times for lost Alzheimer’s patients through the utilization of electronic search methods in an effort to return these individuals home safely. While it began as a localized pilot program, news of the program quickly spread throughout surrounding communities; its innovation in the field and proven success brought upon its expansion to other agencies. Soon, this entity that I had created was a hot commodity, and to keep up with its rapid growth, Contact: Gene Saunders Company: Project Lifesaver International 201 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd #203, Port St. Lucie, Florida, 34984, USA Telephone: 001 772 446 1273 Web Address: www. projectlifesaver.org The Rewards & Satisfaction of a Lifetime of Public Service T 1808AI19 I retired from my law enforcement career, after 33 years of service, to take on a new role as CEO. Today, Project Lifesaver International is a widely- known 501 (C) (3) community based, public safety, non-profit organization that provides law enforcement, fire/rescue and other first responders across the globe with a comprehensive search and rescue program designed to safeguard the special needs community from the life-threatening behavior of wandering. Experts estimate that over five million people have Alzheimer’s disease in America alone, with these numbers expected to triple in the years to come. Wandering or elopement is common among individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and can be one of the most dangerous behaviors an Alzheimer’s patient can possess. It is estimated that 60% to 70% of all people with Alzheimer’s will wander away from safety at least once during the course of their illness. Many will wander six to eight times before they are placed into a residential facility or an outside, qualified caretaker is brought into the home to help. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that an average of one in 59 children in the U.S. has Autism, which can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. These challenges often present unique safety risks, including those associated with the tendency to wander or elope. In fact, data published in Pediatrics estimates that 49% of children with Autism will attempt to elope from a safe environment. Also, a recent National Autism Association survey concluded that nearly 92% of parents felt their autistic child was at risk of wandering away and becoming lost. The task of searching for wandering or lost individuals with Autism, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive conditions possesses challenges not typically experienced in standard search and rescue operations, and with the number of diagnoses dramatically growing each year, wandering is becoming a serious societal problem. Without effective procedures and equipment, searches can involve multiple agencies, hundreds of officers, countless man-hours and tens of thousands of dollars. More importantly, because time is of the essence, every minute lost increases the risk of a tragic outcome. If not located within 24 hours, the “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” -Albert Schweitzer