The Sumter County Sheriff's Office's new Child Safety Kits go further than fingerprints and photos -- they do scent preservation as well.
- Sumter County giving away 500 Child Safety Kits
- Created by Scent Evidence K9 of Tallahassee
- Includes scent preservation kit to help bloodhounds
The kits, created by Scent Evidence K9 of Tallahassee, include tools to take a child's scent. The sheriff's office says each individual's unique scent can help bloodhounds tracking a missing child.
The kit can preserve the scent for more than 7 years.
Sumter County Sheriff's Office is the first to use them.
The kits also take fingerprints, medical and dental information, photos and other items that can help in finding a missing child.
Sumter County received 500 of the kits, and they are giving them away for free to county residents.
Anyone interested in a kit can pick one up at The Villages Annex or the Administrative Office in Bushnell.
They can also call Melissa Merritt at 352-569-1623 or Lt. Bob Siemer at 352-689-4600.