HOUGHTON — Copper Country residents can now sign up for a program allowing families to easily locate at-risk people who wander away from home.

Enrollment for Project Lifesaver is now open, Houghton County Sheriff Joshua Saaranen announced Friday.

“Several people have signed up … I know Detective (Charlie) Klein has been reaching out to those families and starting up that process,” he said.

A Portage Health Foundation grant announced in October is funding transmitters for 50 families with a member who has a cognitive impairment, such as Down syndrome or dementia. If local agencies get a call that the person is missing, they will be able to send signals to the transmitter via antenna.

All Houghton County deputies have completed training for the program, Saaranen said. Project Lifesaver trained three deputies, who then trained the other deputies on their respective shifts.

The training involved a simulated search where deputies learned how to use the device by tracking down a hidden transmitter. The missing person wears a bracelet containing a chip that transmits on a radio frequency available to the searchers.

“They enjoyed the training,” Saaranen said. “It was kind of a chilly week outside but they were happy to be out. Everyone I talked to has gained confidence over the past couple weeks in learning how to use the system and how successful it could be in the field.”

The sheriff’s departments in Baraga, Ontonagon and Keweenaw counties are doing their own training, Saaranen said. Superior Search & Rescue will conduct training next week.

To enroll, email either jsaaranen@houghtonsheriff.com or cklein@houghtonsheriff.com, visit the Portage Health Foundation website at phfgive.org/projectlifesaver, or call the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office at (906) 482-0055.

The PHF website also offers a link for anyone who wants to make a donation towards the program, Saaranen said.

“The first 50 are at no cost to the families, but after that we’ll have to figure out a way to fund the project,” he said.

Houghton County thanked the Portage Health Foundation, Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Office, Baraga County Sheriff’s Office, and Superior Search and Rescue for cooperation with the project.