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PRESS
RELEASE
On Wednesday March 6, 2002 Top of Virginia Search and
Rescue Group (TOVSAR) was called to assist Rockingham County in the search
for a 67 year old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Three search
& rescue personnel from TOVSAR participated in the search which
centered in the Timberville, VA area. TOVSAR joined searchers from
Rockingham and Augusta counties. The individual in question had been
missing since 8 PM the previous evening.
The search was successfully concluded when a dog team found him
about 7:30 the following morning alive but needing medical attention.
Alzheimer patients are prone to wander away from their care givers. It is estimated that about 60% of the 4 million Americans who
have Alzheimer disease will wander away from their caregivers at some time
during the course of their illness, and many individuals do so repeatedly.
Memory impaired people who are found within 24 hours are almost always
returned safely; the potential for harm increases substantially after a
day elapses.
TOVSAR is an all - volunteer Search & Rescue
Group who respond to assist law enforcement in searches for missing
people. The members of TOVSAR
live in Winchester, Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren Counties. TOVSAR responds anywhere in Virginia and West Virginia when
called by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
For more information visit our web site:
www.tovsar.org.
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