Prevention

The best search and rescue (SAR) incident is the one that never happens. SAR prevention aims to reduce the frequency, severity and duration of SAR incidents. Prevention saves the lives and the risk of injuries of those who might otherwise be in distress; it supports the safety of first responders, removes unnecessary pressure from the SAR response system, and saves money.

AdventureSmart

AdventureSmart is a national program whose mission is to inform Canadians and visitors about the importance of proactive safety in outdoor recreation, in order to reduce the number, severity, and duration of SAR incidents.

The program balances key safety messages with an individual’s responsibility for safety; encouraging the public to obtain the knowledge, skills and equipment necessary for them to enjoy their outdoor pursuits.

It is the key SAR prevention initiative of Public Safety’s SAR program.

The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada, funded through the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada Contribution Program, hosts the AdventureSmart website and is a key partner in the program.

The AdventureSmart website has a broad range of year-round expert information for adults, as well as programs geared to children.

Keep up to date with AdventureSmart seasonal tips and news on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Dementia

During emergencies and other natural disasters that impact vulnerable populations and high-risk groups, the unique characteristics of dementia can affect SAR efforts.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe symptoms affecting the brain that include a decline in cognitive abilities such as memory. It is not a disease but rather an umbrella term describing a variety of conditions. Dementia is a progressive condition that, over time, can reduce the ability to maintain independent activities of daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia, among others.

A growing impact on Canadians:

The World Health Organization has declared dementia as a public health priority and dementia has a significant and growing impact on Canadians:

564,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia
16,000 Canadians under the age of 65 are currently living with dementia
937,000 Canadians are projected to be living with dementia in 15 years

Canada’s National Dementia Strategy

The National Dementia Strategy sets out three national objectives: preventing dementia; advancing therapies and finding a cure; and improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers. The Strategy was released in 2019 by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Dementia and wayfinding

Most people with dementia wander at some point during the progression of the condition. Changes in the brain can cause confusion even in familiar places. Wandering increases likelihood of going missing. 60% of people living with dementia will go missing at some point; at least 5% get lost repeatedly; unlike other missing persons, people living with dementia may not be aware that they are missing and are more susceptible to injury and death if not found.

If a person with Alzheimer’s disease is not found within 12 hours of being lost, there is a 50% chance that they will be found injured or dead from hypothermia, dehydration or drowning. This makes any search an emergency.

When police engage in SAR efforts of a missing person with dementia, it is costly. What was once only 5% of the SAR cases, older adults now make up nearly 50% of the missing persons reports in some jurisdictions.

Opportunities for SAR

With the numbers of lost and missing dementia patients steadily increasing across the country, both the trend and the issue are already concerning to police officers, SAR experts and volunteers.

There is potential for the SAR community to

Collaborate with researchers on trusted practices and programs at the federal, provincial, and territorial levels
Support the development of expertise and dementia-friendly policies, procedures and protocol development as it relates to SAR response and prevention
Contribute to and support innovative initiatives aimed at creating supportive communities for persons living with dementia at risk of going missing by building the capacities of first responders

Series: Dementia is a search and rescue matter

Public Safety promotes awareness about the impact of missing persons living with dementia^{Footnote 1} on SAR resources on social media platforms. The approach is meant to empower members of the public to recognize a wandering person living with dementia, know how to approach them and call for help. The following downloadable graphics are available for you to use to do the same.