| There seems to be a general misconception | | | | In today's world, identity theft is not at all uncommon |
| concerning child safety and child identification. In | | | | and, therefore, a very real concern. |
| speaking with parents, one thing becomes very clear. | | | | Each Child ID "kit" is assigned a unique, personal |
| Parents commonly believe, that by recording their | | | | identification number (PIN) code, which is specific to |
| children's fingerprints and DNA information, they have | | | | each family. |
| taken all the steps necessary in order to protect as | | | | The company supplies parents with an unlimited supply |
| well as provide identification for their children. | | | | of the coded iron-on identification labels and coded |
| Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. | | | | weatherproof stickers, which can be placed on literally |
| Common sense dictates that the only time a child's | | | | anything that leaves the home as well as key rings, |
| fingerprints or DNA information would ever become | | | | which list the family's unique pin code, which can be |
| necessary would be in the worst-case scenario, after | | | | used for school bags, sports bags, luggage etc. |
| the unthinkable has happened. | | | | The id labels and coded stickers protect the families |
| We as parents would like to watch over our children | | | | privacy as they contain only the company name, a |
| 24-hours a day, thereby, ensuring our children's safety. | | | | message that reads "If Found Call", a toll free number |
| However, this is unrealistic. | | | | as well as the PIN code; this ensures the prompt and |
| In situations where young children get separated from | | | | accurate identification of a child after a 1-800 number |
| their parents as well as natural disasters such as: | | | | is called. |
| hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis, we are | | | | If anyone locates a lost child who is wearing the |
| reminded time and again, that children do not carry | | | | identification labels, a phone call is all it takes to identify |
| identification. | | | | the child and contact the parents. |
| A Canadian company seems to have taken a very | | | | Child ID Labels Inc.'s concept focuses on the fact that |
| logical approach towards helping parents protect their | | | | "Children do not carry id, if they did they would likely |
| children. Their small label can give parents great peace | | | | loose it. We as adults never leave home without our id, |
| of mind as far as their children are concerned. Jerry | | | | frightening but true; there is more identification on the |
| Scala founded Child ID Labels inc. in 1995, with the | | | | neighborhood dogs than on our children. |
| intentions of offering his identification concept to fellow | | | | For pre-teens, the elderly who suffer from Alzheimer's |
| members of his congregation. However, within nine | | | | as well as the intellectually challenged, the company |
| months, the fledgling program gained national exposure | | | | also offers their version of a "no name" label, which |
| with their first recovery. | | | | simply reads in bold letters "If Found Call" and the |
| The company's first successful recovery happened on | | | | same toll free number as well as the family's PIN code. |
| Easter Weekend, 1996, outside of Toronto, Canada. | | | | When called, the 1-800 number links the caller to a |
| While his parents were in the kitchen, a small three | | | | monitoring service, which is staffed twenty-four hours |
| year-old boy let himself out and wandered three | | | | a day, seven days a week. |
| blocks before ending up in a convenience store. The | | | | The company's database contains the PIN codes |
| store's clerk noticed the identification label on the | | | | assigned to families so there is no danger of anyone |
| outside of the back collar and contacted the toll free | | | | identifying the child except Child ID. One of the many |
| number on the id label. The authorities, with Child ID's | | | | advantages to this labelling system, is the labels can be |
| help, had the young escapee in his parent's arms in | | | | as visible or invisible as the parents feel necessary. |
| less than eight minutes. | | | | The company recommends that for individuals who |
| Child ID's program helps parents deal with everyday | | | | might be considered high flight risk, such as Autistic |
| events that happen, not out of neglect, but are due to | | | | children or sufferers of Alzheimer's, the label should be |
| situations that are beyond our control. Unlike other | | | | placed in plain view. In one case the company has |
| programs that are passive in nature and wait for | | | | recovered a 21 year-old autistic man twice. |
| something to happen before they spring into action, | | | | This program seems to have taken everything into |
| This company's unique focus and approach towards | | | | account. For those parents who believe that |
| child safety and identification is proactive as well as | | | | prevention far outweighs the cure, it's nice to know |
| preventative, thereby, offering parents an unparalleled | | | | that there is a company working to protect and keep |
| amount of peace of mind. | | | | our children safe. |