08/18/2026
Project Lifesaver Success Story:
First responders were recently called to help find a missing older adult enrolled in Project Lifesaver. Teams from Council Bluffs Police Department, Council Bluffs Fire Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and Oakland Volunteer Fire Department responded and began searching.
Project Lifesaver participants wear a small transmitter that emits a unique tracking signal. Using a specialized receiver, Council Bluffs Deputy Chief Alex Ford picked up that signal and followed it, helping locate the missing individual near Veterans Memorial Highway.
He was found just 27 minutes after the 911 call and was 2.5 miles from home! A great outcome made possible by technology, training, and teamwork.
That’s exactly what Project Lifesaver is designed to do. The program provides an extra layer of protection for individuals who may be prone to wandering due to dementia, autism, or other cognitive conditions, while giving their families a little more peace of mind. Currently, 42 people are registered in the Project Lifesaver program.