The Walton County Sheriff's Office has adopted a new program to help deputies search for missing people. It's called Project Lifesaver, and it uses a tracking device.

The program has significantly cut search costs and has proven to be very effective in other counties. Authorities believe it will work especially well with Alzheimer's patients who wander away from home.

Project Lifesaver is a national program that has helped many of the more than 4 1/2 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, but the program doesn't stop there; it also helps people with Down syndrome and autism.

Walton County sheriff's employees began the day Friday with a training session on Project Lifesaver equipment. Then they put their new knowledge to the test.

Devices were hidden across this field and employees were instructed to locate them while being timed.

Dep. Wayne Grandstaff said, "The bracelet hooked up to the individual with Alzheimer's or dementia has a signal that sends out beeps once every second 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Each chip has a separate fm frequency that allows the searchers to pin point the location of the missing person. It only took the employees about seven minutes to locate the devices.

Dep. Cathy Gardner, Coordinator, said, "Project Lifesaver has a success rate of 100 percent finding them in less than 30 min or less."

The bracelets come in different sizes and colors and can be worn around the wrist, ankle or even shoe laces. The cost of the program is $50 a month, but the sheriff's office is hoping to get donations to pay for most, if not all, of the program.

"We're asking for money and donation for people who can't afford it. We don't want to turn anybody down."

They also need volunteers to help check the devices' batteries monthly.