“Project Lifesaver” Benefits Visitors and Locals Alike
Let's do the math. Beyond the fact that hundreds of Horry County kids are living with autism, the number of annual visitors to the Grand Strand presents some eye-popping figures.
Of the roughly 14 million people who come to the Myrtle Beach area each year, 25 percent - or 3.5 million - would be a conservative guesstimate of how many in this group are kids under the age of 18. Divide that figure by 150 (the most recent figure released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says that one in 150 children are afflicted with autism), and it's easy to conclude that tens of thousands of autistic children are coming here each year with their families.
If you're a parent of an autistic child and you vacation in Myrtle Beach, the reasons you come here go well beyond the sand, surf and entertainment. You all need a break, some form of respite from the daily realities of dealing with your child's condition.
You should also have peace of mind, and that's exactly what the Autism Advocate Foundation (AAF) is trying to provide all families of autistic persons through its "Project Lifesaver" program.
It's a simple premise. Project Lifesaver is a radio technology tracking system used to recover children and adults who wander from their family or caregivers - a common effect of autism. Radio transmitting wristbands can be tracked on the ground or by air over several miles. Several local law enforcement agencies have already volunteered to place radio receivers at various stations throughout Horry County, and AAF is purchasing the initial transponder for this purpose.
Contributions to support Project Lifesaver help AAF expand the technology in Horry County, provide training resources, and help financially needy families purchase the wristbands. Project Lifesaver also serves broader purposes; the system can also help individuals with Alzheimer's Disease, Down Syndrome and other medical conditions that may predispose them to wandering.
The same system is already being used in many eastern states with great success; to find the nearest Project Lifesaver organization in your area or to get more information about starting one, visit the Project Lifesaver International Web site.
AAF hosts several fund-raising events throughout the year. A benefit lunch and silent auction will be held on Thursday, March 22 at Carrabba's (6803 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach). For more information about this event, Project Lifesaver and other autism services in Horry County, visit AAF's Web site or call them at 843-213-0217.
As the mother of an autistic child who lives in Myrtle Beach, I support this effort wholeheartedly. This is just one of many ways that families can deal effectively with the difficulties surrounding it.
It’s a worthwhile initiative, especially when you consider that the numbers you give are probably very low compared to reality, and go up dramatically when you think about how many more people with Alzheimers etc. we’re probably talking about who’d be helped by this.
I am the Chief of Operations for Project Lifesaver International. I have seen this project grow from only a few agencies to now well over 550 agencies in 40 states and Canada. We have now logged in 1,446 successful rescues using this system. A 100% success rate with an average recovery time of less than 30 minutes. I am encouraged to see the impact this program has in your community and your plans to help protect more children that could be involved in a search incident while vacationing there. AAF is to be commended for taking a positive stance to help protect the ones we love. If we can help your project in any way, please let us know.
There’s been a breakthrough study thats just been completed about autism. The article’s on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/conditions/02/19/autism.study.reut/index.html
After that lame piece on 60 Minutes the other night, the CNN article at least sheds some light on what’s behind it. Let’s hope it leads to some further breakthroughs.
My sweet 3 year old nephew who lives in Myrtle Beach is moderately Autisic. Although he has not wandered, I am pleased to hear that Horry County is participating in a means to locate our darling children. Thanks for the information on the fundraiser at Carrabba’s. Count on me and my office of 27 to participate. Keep us posted on ways to help AAF.