Care Trak is a commercial product which is designed to locate victim's of Alzheimer's Disease who wander away from a professional care facility or from home. The victim wears a tiny wrist transmitter and can be located by dialing in the specific frequency number of the wanderers wrist transmitter.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office currently has two Care Trak Mobile locators or receivers, one for the ground and one adapted for the helicopter. This receiver can track signals transmitted from a bracelet about the size of a wristwatch that is worn on the arm, ankle or inserted inside a belt.

The signal can be detected from five miles in the air and up to a mile on the ground. It can be difficult to track on the ground, depending on the terrain and number of buildings and their density. For example, someone cannot be located if they are inside of the Lake Square Mall and the receiver is on the outside. The equipment has been tested 18 feet under water from a distance of 200 feet from shore.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office does not supply the transmitter, which must be purchased through Care Trak. The transmitter must have the battery replaced every 30 days and be tested daily by the caregiver. Each transmitter has its own frequency number.

After the transmitter is received, the Lake County Sheriff's Office will take a digital photograph of the patient and record pertinent information. This information is made readily available to Sheriff's Office personal. The receiver is also tested to insure compatibility. The frequency number is also cross-referenced with the telephone number in the 911 system.

The wrist transmitter can be used by love ones living at home, nursing facilities, hospitals or retirement facilities. The mobile locator has also been successfully used to locate special needs children with Down Syndrome, Autism, Mental Challenges and those who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury.