HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A missing autistic child who wandered from his Hanover County home was found safe and sound thanks to "Project Lifesaver," local authorities say. On Tuesday, April 7, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to share what it described as a "life-saving succ ess story." Deputies were called to a Hanover home on Friday, April 3 after a boy with non-verbal autism left that home and ran into a nearby wooded area. "Fortunately, the child was enrolled in our Project Lifesaver Program and the initial deputies on scene were equipped with a Project Lifesaver tracking receiver — and that made all the difference," the sheriff's office said. ‘This wouldn’t have happened’: RPS teachers and district leaders evaluate next steps after several teacher absences Project Lifesaver International provides free transmitters to families with loved ones who are known to wander due to Alzheimer's, dementia, a traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome or autism, among other cognitive conditions. These watch-sized transmitters can be tracked by the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and other participating law enforcement agencies, allowing the wearer to be found quickly in the event of an emergency. In the case of this missing Hanover child, deputies tracked the boy's transmitter and soon found his clothes and shoes in a swamp. They then found him, unclothed, about two miles from his home. All of this happened in just 23 minutes, allowing deputies to ensure a "safe and swift outcome" for the boy and his family. Virginia redistricting ‘Yes’ campaign says they’re ahead as they step up efforts to drive voter turnout "This program significantly reduces search times — and more importantly, saves lives," the sheriff's office said. According to Project Lifesaver International's website, just over 4,500 people have been saved nationwide through the program since its launch. Hundreds of those rescues have taken place in Virginia. "We are committed to protecting our most vulnerable — and programs like Project Lifesaver International help us do just that," Hanover authorities said. If you're a Hanover resident who would like to sign up for Project Lifesaver, you can do so by calling the Hanover County Sheriff's Office at 804-365-6110 or by emailing Sgt. Troy Payne at [email protected]. For more information on Project Lifesaver International, click here. ...read more read less