By Cecilia Nasmith

The Cobourg Police Service has launched the MedicAlert program as a valuable resource for those with special requirements, Mayor John Henderson announced at Tuesday's council meeting.

“It allows you to wear a Medic Alert-type bracelet, from a very simplistic one to a very attractive one,” Henderson said.

“For $5 a month, you are given an ID and, if a first responder is on the scene for some kind of emergency, he can key in the ID number and the first responders have your information directly on the screen.

“I just think it's a very valuable program, and I am delighted to learn the Cobourg Police Service have adopted it as part of their community safety program.”

Cobourg Police Service issued a press release to announce their partnership with MedicAlert Foundation Canada, adding some details on how it can better assist officers in their interactions with vulnerable persons by providing quick 24/7 access to a registered subscriber's emergency profile through their dispatcher.

Critical intelligence that might be crucial in certain situations that can be provided through MedicAlert includes recent photos, physical descriptions, wandering history, behaviour management strategies (such as anxiety triggers), de-escalation techniques and caregiver information.

“The Town of Cobourg is a very diverse community with a strong need for the MedicAlert Connect Protect program,” the press release said.

“Cobourg has a healthy population of aging citizens, as well as any members of the public who could require this service one day.”

The Cobourg Police Service has relied, until now, on a vulnerable persons registry, but this no longer meets the needs of the community. They are confident the MedicAlert registry will be of more value in times of serious need – as it has in other communities, where the system has proven effective in assisting individuals living with autism, Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders, mental health-related issues and cognitive brain injuries.

The MedicAlert Foundation Canada is the largest membership-based registered charity in Canada and the leading provider of emergency medical-information services, having protected more than one-million Canadians since 1961.

Dispatchers for the Cobourg Police Service will have access to the national database of registered subscribers.

“Access to quick and accurate information is crucial for us to help keep members of our community safe,” Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf said in the press release.

“Partnerships such as this are key in assisting the police to better understand some of our most vulnerable citizens in their time of need.

“This new partnership with MedicAlert is another great tool in our toolbox to help police resolve emergent situations quickly, respectfully and safely.”

For more information, visit the Cobourg Police Services website for a hyperlink that will take you to the MedicAlert site at https://www.cobourgpolice.com.