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By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office is selling Project Lifesaver bracelets for patients who may wander from their caretakers.

Captain Ken Harmon of the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office organizes the sale of the transmitter bracelets in Chilton County. According to Harmon, the bracelets are about $360 a piece and can be purchased through his office.

“We try to take up donations for people who need them,” Harmon said.

Adults and children with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism or other cognitive conditions are at risk of wandering from home and becoming lost.

The bracelets from Project Lifesaver allow responders to locate wandering patients much more quickly. If a caregiver notices that the client is missing, they notify the Sheriff’s Office and a team responds to the area and tracks the individualized signal from the bracelet.

Project Lifesaver claims the recovery time for users of its bracelets averages 30 minutes, as opposed to hours or even days without the trackers. The device saves manpower and time, and gives peace of mind to caretakers.

According to Harmon, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office has been offering the service for about three years. The Sheriff’s Office website said a search and rescue team has been specially trained to locate and interact with wandering patients.

“We have about 10 clients [using the bracelets] in Chilton County right now. We have not had to use them yet, thank goodness,” Harmon said.

To learn more about Project Lifesaver, visit projectlifesaver.org. To order a transmitter bracelet, contact Harmon at 205-755-4698.