An Australian scholar is urging the government to create a public notification system similar to Silver Alerts used in the U.S. to help find lost people with dementia. Dr. Margie MacAndrew conducted a study about missing persons with dementia. “Wandering can result in potentially life-threatening outcomes such as malnutrition, increased risk of falls, injury, exhaustion, hypothermia, becoming lost, and death,” she said. “Rapid reporting within one hour of knowing a person is missing is also known to help search and rescue have a better chance of finding a person alive and well.”
On May 20, 2011, Romania launched a child abduction alert system, called "Alerta Rapire Copil," to disseminate alerts to the public through the media and at train stations and other public transport centers. Law enforcement will only activate the alerts if there is clear evidence a child has been abducted or his or her life is in danger.
Police and prosecutors took part in three training sessions in March and April in preparation for the alert launch. Law enforcement representatives learned about the U.S. AMBER Alert Program, how to work with the media, and how to make the decision to issue an alert. Representatives from France, England, and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children also took part in the training.
A public information campaign about the alert began April 18 to build awareness and to show how the public can help find an abducted child. The Romanian Center for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children and the Romanian police and prosecutor's office developed the alert system during the past year.