Device used to track is available

The alerts pop up on cell phones from time to time.

A child is missing after slipping away while a parent had their back turned.

A elderly man suffering from dementia or memory loss has wandered off from home.

Portland Fire Chief Mike Weitzel wanted to remind local residents that there is an option to help those who have loved ones who are prone to getting lost.

Portland’s police and fire departments teamed with Jay County Sheriff’s Office to purchase Care Trak in 2017 after a series of incidents involving children wandering away from home. Laura Garringer was one of the first users of the device for her autistic son, who had a tendency to wander off from school and home.

Now five families in Jay County have applied for and received a tamperproof and waterproof wristband that transmits radio waves that are able to be tracked up to 5 miles away. In case the person wearing the band ever becomes lost, emergency responders can utilize antennas tuned into the band’s frequency to find them.

The device offers peace of mind to those raising a child with severe developmental disabilities or taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, who make up all of the four in Portland and the one in Dunkirk who wear the tracking bands, Weitzel said.

The families are also provided a way to check if the band is still working and the battery is charged right at home so they can be sure it can be tracked if needed.

Weitzel’s team visits the families and installs new batteries in the bands every two months.

“It puts us in the eyes of the wearer,” he said.

So far, Care Trak hasn’t had to be utilized for a rescue mission, though the reassurance it gives to the community and the user’s families is worth the investment, Weitzel said.

Portland provides the $300 tracking bands and new batteries free to families via donations from the community. Donations for the equipment can be directed to the Portland Fire Department.

Those seeking to apply for the tracking band can contact Weitzel at (260) 726-4500.