Hendricks Power makes $3,000 donation to Project Lifesaver

Representatives from Hendricks Power Cooperative recently award the Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team a $3,000 donation to go toward certifications and equipment for its Project Lifesaver initiative.

Courtesy photo

Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will soon have a new tool at its disposal to help locate individuals with cognitive disorders who may be prone to wandering.

A recent $3,000 donation from Hendricks Power Cooperative helped bring the Project Lifesaver program to the Putnam County community.

The funds provided certification, transmitters and receivers for CERT to assist Putnam County and surrounding areas.

Learning the ins and outs of Project Lifesaver equipment, CERT Board President Pam Pierce, search and rescue team leader Thomas Carter and public health and public engagement leader Brian Williams take part in a recent training session.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

A group of CERT members recently went through training to learn to use the three receivers as well as train the rest of the team.

CERT Chief Sarah Owen told the Banner Graphic the program will go into service in Putnam County in October.

Enrollment in Project Lifesaver is voluntary, though there are certain guidelines a potential client must meet. These include having a diagnosed cognitive disorder — such as autism, dementia, traumatic brain injury or Down’s syndrome — as well as a 24-hour caregiver.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Each person enrolled in Project Lifesaver will be provided with a transmitter which is worn on the wrist and which transmits a specific radio signal.

Should the person get lost, Putnam County Dispatch can be notified and CERT team members can use that specific signal to track the missing person.

The cost for each transmitter is $300.

“We will be fundraising to help families who can’t afford it,” Owen said.

Additionally, Project Lifesaver is a growing national program, meaning that it is possible for to track Putnam County clients in other locations, as long as that jurisdiction has a Project Lifesaver team.

Those who may be interested in the Project Lifesaver program may contact Owen at chief@pccert.org.

The Hendricks Power donation was made possible by its Operation Round-Up program.

Operation Round-Up is a voluntary fundraising program that lets members round up their energy bill to the next whole dollar. The contributions are then deposited to funds at the Putnam County and Hendricks County community foundations. Together, Hendricks Power and the foundations determine uses to benefit their communities.

The cooperative also made a $1,000 donation to Bike Friendly Hendricks County, an initiative that encourages local businesses to install bike racks throughout its service area.

“Our generous members contribute to Operation Round-Up, making these contributions possible,” said Dana Cochran, director of marketing and member engagement for Hendricks Power. “Both of these projects have the safety and health of our community in mind, and we are proud supporters.”

Nonprofit organizations which would like to apply for a donation may visit www.hendrickspower.com/round-up or call 317-745-5473.