RETURN HOME SAFE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Over the last several years the Wheeling Police Department, like other agencies across the State of Illinois, have sent officers to be certified as Crisis Intervention Officers. There is a rise throughout the nation in calls involving people in crisis and the latest studies have shown that almost 50% of people that have a fatal encounter with Law Enforcement suffer from some sort of disability. Officers go through annual training to further their knowledge of specific disorders in hopes of identifying what they are being faced with when these split-second decisions have to be made. These situations are oftentimes rapidly evolving as in many things that we do in public service, we strive to make ourselves better. Several programs have been developed throughout the nation to accomplish these goals, which is our desired outcome for with the establishment of this program. The Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District would like to thank the Village of Wheeling and the Wheeling Police Department for creating a program to assist emergency workers.
The Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District (LRFPD) has identified this as an area we can take steps to improve upon, and through the assistance of the Wheeling Police Department is adopting this program to better serve the needs of our community.
Please contact LT Pluda @ returnhomesafe@lrfpd.org If you have questions pertaining to the program
LRFPD RETURN HOME SAFE DETAILS
The Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District is excited to announce the Return Home Safe initiative for residents to share certain information regarding family members with limited communication abilities and other disabilities who could be at risk of walking away, without the means of being readily identifiable or treated. We believe this partnership with the community will allow us to enhance the services we provide to the residents of the Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District, with a heightened focus on those with special needs, both children and adults (non-verbal, Cerebral Palsy, Autism).
All participants will need to complete the initial sign-up paperwork, giving the Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District the opportunity to learn about each participant. The information needed will include the diagnosis, emergency contacts, and a current photograph. Each participant will then be provided with an identification bracelet specific to them. This information will be shared with the police departments who work within the fire district so they too are aware someone with special needs resides at the residence should they respond to an emergency. Members of the fire district will familiarize themselves with the program and receive training based on the needs of the community.
In all, we hope to better serve the residents and their families in the community. We understand that these diagnoses are very different and can be difficult to navigate. The Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District knows that having a working knowledge of the residents and their tendencies prior to emergencies, removes guesswork from the equation and will allow us to get right to work, providing the best service possible. We look forward to working with everyone.
