Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has bracelets to help locate missing people

Jan 12, 2012 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Mt. Lebanon Fire Department is accepting applications for a set of cellular-based tracking bracelets that help locate missing people almost anywhere in the country.

The $200 device made by Texas-based EmFinders is designed for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism and other conditions that can cause them to wander and make communicating their whereabouts difficult.

To gauge interest, the municipality has purchased 10 devices to start through a donation from the Mt. Lebanon Partnership.

"There was a group of parents who came and said this was a concern of theirs," said Commissioner Kelly Fraasch, who is part of the committee that worked to obtain the devices and will decide which applicants receive them.

The individual can wear the device, which looks like a wristwatch with a large face, 24 hours a day or as often as necessary. If the person is missing, the family should report it to local emergency authorities, then contact EmFinders to activate the device.

The device itself makes a 911 call and provides the person's location to local dispatchers.

According to the EmFinder website, 98 lives have been saved since the product debuted in 2009, up four from a few days ago. Missing persons are usually found within 30 minutes after the EmFinder bracelet is activated, police spokesman Lt. Aaron Lauth said in a statement.

Police Chief Coleman McDonough said the committee looked at several options but settled on this cellular-based tracking because of its extended range and reliability compared with radio-based or global positioning systems that can experience interference.

The device also will store information specific to the individual, such as medical history, and the fire department will update its database with that information, Chief McDonough said.

Families selected to receive the device will pay only a $25 monthly service fee. Members of the fire department will deliver the devices and help set them up.

The application is on the fire department website, mtlfd.org.

The devices also may be purchased directly from the EmFinders website.

Molly Born: mborn@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1944.

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