Project Lifesaver being used by New Hanover County Sheriff’s

The elderly Wilmington man who was missing Tuesday has been found. But if he had been wearing a tracking bracelet, he might have been found a bit sooner.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office offers free tracking bracelets for people who have brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism. When caregivers notify the sheriff’s office that the person is missing, authorities can use the tracking bracelet to find them, typically within 30 minutes.

Lt. W.A. Hoehlein of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said, “This is such a good program so that those that would wonder off and get into a position that they would be in harms way be returned back especially in cases like in this time of the year when the temperatures at night drop down into the 20’s.”

You do have to qualify to receive the free tracking bracelet. For more information call the Project Lifesaver coordinator at 910-798-4283.