Care Trak

Care Trak equipment

One of the worst nightmares for families who have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a developmental disability is the fear that he or she will accidentally run or wander away — an act that can result in devastating consequences. The St. Charles County Police Department, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health, has launched a program that can give those families a little more peace of mind.

For registration information or to begin an application, caregivers should contact the St. Charles County Division of Health Services at 636-949-7400.

How Does Care Trak Work?

The Care Trak telemetry tracking system locates lost individuals who are wearing specially designed wrist transmitters. When an individual wearing this system is reported missing, trained and certified law enforcement officials can begin the search. Introduced in 1986, the system has successfully located several thousand missing participants, with recorded response times of less than 30 minutes from the initial call. 

Care Trak: Search and Rescue

Activating the System

Should an individual registered with St. Charles County’s Care Trak program wander away or become lost, their caregiver would call 9-1-1 and notify the dispatcher of their participation in the program. Responders would then begin tracking the individual’s specific transmitter frequency (from as far as one mile away on the ground and five miles from the air). The highly accurate, waterproof system is routinely tested, and responders have the ability to locate the unit to just a few inches away day or night.

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