A new partnership between OPP and MedicAlert Foundation Canada is all about supporting vulnerable people.

Officials announced the partnership today which gives police 24-hour access, during emergencies, to registered subscriber’s photo, identification, past wandering history and other medical information.

Jennifer Cuthbert is Manager of MedicAlert.

She says the Connect Protect service enables police to have access to their data base and that can help a wide range of vulnerable people who have wandered away and need assistance.

“Examples include those who have a brain injury, mental health issues, fetal alcohol syndrome, autism and anybody with special needs,” she says.

She says last year, there were 650 people who wandered away.

Michael Pilon, Superintendent with the Northeast Region of the OPP says the partnership will give police trigger techniques too.

“Information that can assist in dealing with that person. And having a positive interaction with that person rather than seeing them as an aggressive person or anything like that. It kind of humanizes that person a little bit more,” he says.

He says this partnership is ideal because MedicAlert owns the information and police are accessing the data base so privacy information of the individuals is protected.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: MedicAlert, OPP