| Take a moment and think about it. When you consider | | | | as the tsunami, hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in |
| the fact that, as adults, we would never consider | | | | Pakistan. With each of these disasters, we've |
| leaving the house without our id. We spend thousands | | | | witnessed far too many unidentified children. |
| on home and car alarms, we are even protecting our | | | | When thinking of child identification, often, fingerprints |
| family pets with microchips; however, our most | | | | and hair samples are the first things that enter our |
| cherished possessions, our children, leave home | | | | mind. There are far too many companies that profess |
| without any identification. | | | | to provide your child with identification. |
| Here are some questions: | | | | Let me inform you that 99.9% of those companies are |
| - Have you taken the time to record your child's | | | | passive in nature. |
| fingerprints, gather a hair sample for DNA purposes, | | | | Fingerprints, DNA information, pictures and even dental |
| record all his/her specific identification, including specific | | | | records will and are only ever used after the fact. |
| identifying features and a photograph of your child in a | | | | Passive information. Think of it as locking the barn |
| Child ID kit? If so, is it up to date? | | | | after the horse gets away. It's unfortunate that as |
| - In the event of a motor vehicle accident, in which you | | | | parents, we feel that we have done all possible to |
| have been rendered unconscious, do the emergency | | | | protect our children by having recorded this information. |
| medical professionals have a quick way of accessing | | | | This is the first step, and a very important step in the |
| your child's specific medical history, including your child's | | | | safety of your child; however, as a parent, the only |
| blood type, medical provider, allergies, any medications | | | | time you ever want to look at your child's identification |
| they may be taking at the time, or, even your family's | | | | kit is and should be when you update it. This is a very |
| doctor's name and phone number? | | | | important step towards safeguarding against the |
| - If you were on vacation with your children and they | | | | unthinkable. Few people are aware that children's |
| became lost or separated from you, or worse, arrived | | | | fingerprints are actually changing for the first 4-5 years |
| at a hospital, unconscious, as a John Doe, how or who | | | | of their life; therefore, it is imperative that this |
| would notify you and how would they know to do so? | | | | information be updated at least once a year, and |
| - Do you or your husband, for that matter; carry your | | | | every 6 months for the first three years of a child's life. |
| child's specific identification, this should include an up to | | | | When looking for a child identification provider, keep in |
| date picture? | | | | mind the old adage " An once of prevention far |
| - Do you, as responsible parents, take the time to talk | | | | outweighs a pound of cure". If all the company |
| with your children about child safety? | | | | provides you with are a fingerprint kit, keep looking! |
| - If you became separated from your child in a crowd, | | | | One such proactive provider of child safety and |
| would someone be able to contact you directly, or | | | | identification is Child ID Labels. |
| even know who your child was? | | | | The purpose of this article is not to alarm you but to |
| If your answer was no or I don't know, don't worry, | | | | inform you, as we are all aware, information is a |
| you are not alone. The sad fact of the matter is that | | | | powerful tool. If, in reading this, you took a moment to |
| children do not carry identification; if they did they | | | | think about your child's safety, please email this article |
| would likely loose it! | | | | to as many people as you know and encourage them |
| Given today's world, it's becoming a necessity for | | | | to do the same. Your children are, after all, your most |
| children to carry identification. This fact was clearly | | | | valuable possessions as well as our future. |
| illustrated through recent tragic natural disasters such | | | | |