FAQs from Sheriffs, Police, SAR Teams, Fire Departments and other Public Safety Agencies
Where did Care Trak come from?
Care Trak is a spin off company of Wildlife Materials, Inc. WMI has been building tracking equipment to monitor endangered species around the world since 1970. Care Trak was established in 1986 to help locate people at risk.
Who uses Care Trak equipment?
Over 500 Sheriffs, police, fire departments, SAR teams and other public safety agencies use Care Trak equipment to locate people at risk of becoming lost or wandering. This population is those stricken with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementia and special needs kids, primarily with Autism.
How does a person at risk participate?
A loved one at risk wears a 1-ounce wrist or ankle transmitter issued by the participating agency that emits a radio signal 24/7. When a caregiver discovers their loved one missing they call 911 and the Care Trak trained agency responds with our tracking receiver to locate the missing person.
Can the transmitter be put on anyone?
No. We only place transmitters on dementia victims and special needs kids. We never put transmitters on “normal” kids or adults. We don’t believe public safety agencies should become a babysitting service.
What frequency are transmitters on?
Care Trak normally operates on the 215MHz frequency; however, we are authorized from 174 Mhz through 215MHz. We have plenty of capacity for expansion and can move frequencies if an interference problem occurs.
I understand HDTV can cause tracking problems?
Yes and no. First of all there are only about 30 channel 13 TV stations in the U.S. that can cause problems with the 215 MHz range. Channel 13’s are on the 210 MHz through 215 MHz bands. If this occurs we can move to another frequency below 215 MHz and avoid the problem.
What about 216-220 MHz?
That would be a very bad idea since the late 1960’s there are tens of thousands of animal transmitters on those bands. Bottom line: you think you’re tracking a wanderer and you’re really tracking a Bobcat, deer, falcon or dozens of other animals. It is a dangerous frequency range for people.
What about GPS?
Great for cars, bad for people. As a general rule anything that blocks the sunlight will block the GPS signal. GPS depends on orbiting satellites that need an unobstructed signal to the GPS unit. Many wanderers and special needs kids get lost in places that blocks the GPS signal. GPS is great for someone who wants to be found. Grandpa doesn’t know he’s lost.
Isn’t GPS making great strides?
Yes the reception is getting better and the unit smaller but not even close to being reliable for the people tracking application. GPS uses a lot of battery power and the unit needs to be recharged constantly. You can’t get most people to change their smoke alarm battery once a year let along recharging a GPS unit every couple of days.
We have been working with GPS for years and when the bugs are worked out we may introduce a workable unit but for now GPS on people is a bad idea and in fact dangerous because it will give caregivers a false sense of security.
Does this equipment eliminate the need for caregivers?
No, it is only an aid to caregivers. No one with dementia or a special needs kid should ever be left alone.
Do you guarantee a loved one will be found?
No. Tracking equipment is only an aid in helping to locate someone.
What’s the success rate?
Over 1,800 documented people have been rescued in an average rescue time of 30 minutes using Care Trak equipment.
What is the best way to help insure success?
NASA spent millions of dollars to develop a pen that would write in zero gravity, extreme temperatures and upside down. The Russians solved the problem much cheaper; they used a pencil.
Tracking is not “Rocket Science” buy you must practice. Telemetry, as one SAR person put it, is “Older than Dirt.” To be successful in locating people means to practice, practice and practice. Did we mention you need to practice?
What is the cost to the sheriff, police or public safety agency?
Two complete tracking packages is currently $4,995.00 and that price includes 2 days of training for up to 12 officers. Travel to the training site, hotel, meals and rental car if necessary is extra and billed after the training event. Prices are kept low because Care Trak is the manufacturer.
Who are your trainers?
Current and former law enforcement officers.
Do I have to pay for recertification?
No your agency can recertify itself by using our protocols and forms.
Where do we buy the equipment & training?
Factory direct from Care Trak. We don’t use equipment vendors or distributors
Care Trak is a for profit company what’s the advantage?
First we are the manufacturer so we can offer much lower prices. Others, including some non-profits, charge more because they are equipment vendors for imported tracking equipment.
Don’t be fooled by the term “non-profit.” Many non-profit agencies are making more money than their commercial for-profit counterparts. Research is always the best approach to dealing with not-for-profits.
What is Rapid Recovery?
Rapid Recovery is simply a program name developed to help smaller agencies get their tracking programs off the ground. We provide full color posters for stores, gas stations, and other public places. We provide stand-alone signs for doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals along with full color postcards that can all be rubber stamped with your agency information. We also provide many forms on pads agencies can use to make the process easier. You can use the Rapid Recovery name if you use Care Trak equipment or you can use your own program name. You can get these promotional items from Care Trak at our cost-plus shipping.
How about your warranty?
We are the industry leader with a 7-Year Parts and Labor Warranty on our transmitters, receivers and antennas. We stand behind our equipment 100%.
Is this the tracking equipment we saw on TV?
Yes we were contacted by the CBS program “Without a Trace” and “Extreme Make Over Home Edition” on ABC. We have also been on Good Morning America, Paul Harvey News and many, many more.
Where is the Care Trak factory?
We are located in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest in Murphysboro, Illinois. Care Trak is a U.S. Company.
Why deal with Care Trak?
We normally would suggest you get a cup of coffee and sit down, but for the sake of your time we will run through our Top 10:
- Care Trak is the number #1 telemetry based people tracking system in the world
- Care Trak is the Proven Leader with 500+ agencies and 1,800+ rescues
- Care Trak has Better Prices, Equipment, Training, Warranty and Service
- Care Trak has 10,000+Transmitters and 1,000+ Receivers in the field
- Care Trak is a U.S. Company employing U.S. workers not an import
- Care Trak has been in people tracking Since 1986
- Care Trak is the Manufacturer not a distributor or equipment vendor
- Care Trak offers Factory Direct Pricing
- Care Trak is Easy to use
- Care Trak Because We Care!