Aviation Unit Rescues Elderly Woman Lost in the Snow

It was a desperate call for help.  A daughter called the PGPD last night to help find her elderly mother who suffers from dementia.  Her 80-year-old mother had wandered off and she was likely somewhere outside.  It was a freezing nine degrees and dark.  Finding her quickly was critical.

Our Aviation Unit was alerted.  A flight crew boarded Air 1 and headed in the direction of the 11200 block of Evans Trail in Beltsville.  They knew time was of the essence.  The pilot and tactical flight officer began a strategic search of the area using the helicopter's thermal imaging system, FLIR.  The flight crew noticed a hot spot in some nearby woods. They guided patrol officers on the ground to that location. Thankfully, it was the missing woman. She had been in the snow and wasn't able to get up on her own.

The FLIR camera caught the potentially life-saving rescue seen below.

  

For any interested media, the flight crew will be available for an interview today.

When: TODAY January 23, 2014

Time: 1:00-1:30 pm

Where:  PGPD Aviation Hangar
             6709 Corporal Frank Scott Drive
             College Park, MD
    
For more information, please contact the Prince George's County Police Department's Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.