A nonverbal young girl was found walking alone at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning near Richey Street and Highway 225 in Pasadena.
Although visibly upset, she was unharmed. Thanks to the quick response of local officers, she was safely reunited with her family.
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While this case had a safe ending, it has sparked renewed attention on social media about how communities can better protect children and adults who are prone to wandering.
READ MORE: Parents of missing girl found walking alone in Pasadena located by police
How ‘Project Lifesaver’ helps
One tool gaining recognition is a radio frequency bracelet provided by Project Lifesaver, a nonprofit that partners with public safety agencies to locate individuals with cognitive or communication challenges caused by autism, Alzheimer’s, dementia, intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.
“Had she been a Project Lifesaver client wearing her bracelet,” said Nora Firestone, Director of Marketing at Project Lifesaver International, “Her loved ones would have been able to contact the agency immediately. Within 30 minutes, maybe an hour under those conditions, they would have found her.”
Project Lifesaver collaborates with agencies like the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office (FBSO), and Sugar Land Police Department. Since the program began in 1999, it has been part of over 4,400 rescues nationwide.
Unlike GPS trackers, which rely on satellites and cell signals, Project Lifesaver uses radio frequency (RF) signals that work even in places GPS can’t reach, like inside buildings, underwater, or in remote areas.
READ: Project Lifesaver connects caregivers to loved ones with cognitive decline
Firestone explains this technology “operates in areas where GPS or cell signals fail.”
This technology, which includes a wearable transmitter and a portable receiver, is also available to individual caregivers, not just law enforcement. Because RF signals can cut through buildings, rough weather, and even water, they provide reliable tracking. The average recovery time in just 30 minutes.
A rescue success story
On April 13, police and sheriff’s deputies in Bagley, Minnesota, responded to a call about a missing 7-year-old boy with autism. Discovered missing around 7 p.m., he was found alive within 20 minutes, playing in a nearby creek half a mile from home.
While it’s common for missing individuals to be close to home, the key difference in this case was that he was located quickly by the trained team at Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.
How to bring Project Lifesaver to your community
You can help bring Project Lifesaver to your area by reaching out to local officials or visiting projectlifesaver.org to learn how to advocate for it.
“People can come together as groups in their community, like parents and educators,” Firestone said.
Barriers and how you can help
Project Lifesaver is not yet available everywhere. Firestone says the biggest challenges are awareness, staffing, and funding.
On social media, some users expressed surprise that a program like this isn’t more widespread, especially in Texas. One commenter said, “It would be nice if all counties/zip codes offered Project Lifesaver.”
READ: 8-year-old girl with autism dies after drowning in SE Houston retention pond
Firestone agrees, expressing that awareness is often the first step in expanding access.
If your community doesn’t have Project Lifesaver yet, you can help bring it there by reaching out to local officials or connecting with the organization. Firestone encourages families, educators, and concerned residents to advocate locally.
Even if Project Lifesaver isn’t available where you live, there’s still something you can do. Firestone says parents, educators, and neighbors can reach out through the contact form on the website.
“We can walk them through the steps,” she says, whether it’s raising awareness, sharing success stories from other communities, or helping local law enforcement or public safety agencies find funding to launch the program.
What happens when someone goes missing
If someone wearing a Project Lifesaver bracelet goes missing, their caregiver can immediately call the local participating agency, often a police department or sheriff’s office.
Trained officers access the person’s information in a secure database and head to the last known location with specialized RF tracking equipment. Sometimes the signal is picked up en route, other times by handheld devices on the ground, or even from a helicopter if needed.
Firestone says the teams are trained to find the signal “no matter where,” and most searches end quickly and safely.
READ: 7-year-old boy with autism drowns in pool in NE Harris County
When asked about the potential impact in the Pasadena case, Firestone was clear that the outcome could have been even quicker.
“In this little girl’s case… she would probably have been found on foot or from a car, very quickly,” Firestone said.
Prevention is key
Ultimately, Firestone emphasizes that it comes down to prevention and preparedness.
“Understanding the behaviors and the risks and the preventive solutions is a critical part of an effective safety plan for at-risk individuals,” Firestone said.
With stronger awareness and community support, more families can have peace of mind and more lives can be saved before it’s too late.
