Crime & Safety

Autism, Dementia, Special Needs Heighten Call for Tracking Aid

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's partnership with SafetyNet by LoJack is aimed to give some peace of mind to caregivers worried about loved ones wandering off. The system involves wearing a small ankle or wrist transmitter.

 

Adults and children with special needs are getting special attention from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Deputies are partnering with SafetyNet by LoJack to better respond to calls for service of missing adults and children with special needs who wander from home.

The aim is to more easily address cases of missing people, including silver alerts.

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Citizens enrolled in SafetyNet wear a small LoJack SafetyNet personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies the local SafetyNet agency, and a trained emergency team will respond.

"Caring for a loved one who wanders is a considerable responsibility,” notes the company’s Web site. “Nothing it more frightening thatn the thought of a loved one with autism, Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairment becoming lost.”

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The technology is aimed at helping public safety agencies "quickly find and bring loved ones home,” giving the caregiver "additional protection and peace of mind" in helping to keep their loved ones safe.

The system's endosrements include the Florida Sheriffs Association and the National Sheriffs Association.

Information about the transmitters is available online at SafetyNet.


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