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The Parent Times>
CHILD SAFETY
August 1, 2009
THE PARENT TIMES
AUGUST 2009
CHILD SAFETY
CHILD ID KITS and THEIR IMPORTANCE
Take a minute to think about these next few questions; Do you have a clear up to date photograph of your child?; Do you know where all of their identifying marks are located such as birth marks, scars, etc?; Do you know their current weight and height? These are the type of questions you need to have the answers to right away in missing children situations. You may know the answers now but you have to think about if your child went missing, due to panic and stress, a lot of parents are unable to answer these vital questions.
Here is the real truth, it really is very simple, the better prepared you are to help with a missing child investigation, the greater the chances become of having a HAPPY ending. According to “America’s Most Wanted” website they state, “When a child is Missing, time is critical. Each passing minute may mean that clues and leads to the child’s whereabouts are being lost. Act IMMEDIATELY.” Child ID Kits give authorities vital information to assist them in their efforts to locate a missing child and begin the search right away. They are probably the most important tool for the authorities to use in a missing child case. Parent’s need to have a complete and up to date profile, including DNA, of each of their children at home.
WHAT A KIT SHOULD INCLUDE
Here is a list of the items each ID Kit should contain:
1. A recent, clear and good quality picture of your child – a head – shoulder photo of your child which clearly shows their face
2. Fingerprints (of all ten fingers) – if your child is under the age of two some people recommend that it is better to take their footprint as their fingerprints at that age are not as defined. (please see the next section on Fingerprinting for more information)
3. Detailed description of your child’s physical characteristics such as their name, eye and hair color, weight, height, sex, age and blood type.
4. Detailed description of your child’s identifying characteristics and where these are located such as birthmarks, scars, whether they wear eyeglasses, piercings, tattoos and disabilities.
5. DNA – You can either take DNA swabs most commonly taken in the child’s mouth or you can keep a piece of their hair. I recommend doing both. Child ID Kits will give you instructions on how to properly take and preserve the DNA swabs.
6. Dental Chart – this can be obtained or completed by your child’s dentist; and
7. Medical Information – drug allergies, medications they require.
FINGERPRINTS
Fingerprints remain constant throughout a person’s life but as they get older, the print becomes better defined. Police suggest that it is useful to repeat fingerprinting that has been done on youngsters under the age of 7 because once the child reaches this age, the fingerprints become more clearly defined. Further, a footprint is often taken instead of fingerprints if the child is under the age of 2 years. Fingerprints or handprints can be taken for children between the ages 2-6 years and then the individual fingerprints are taken thereafter.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD GOES MISSING
As parents we all hope that nothing ever happens to our children but in today’s world, unfortunately, bad things happen to children everyday.
According to the RCMP statistics, more than 60,000 children under the age of 18 years, went missing in Canada in 2007 that is an average of 164 children a day.
Here is a checklist of things parents should do if their child goes missing (for a more detailed checklist go to the RCMP website at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/omc-ned/tip-con/whatdoi-quefaire-eng.htm:
1. Stay calm. Contact everyone who may know where your child may be;
2. Conduct a telephone search; call friends, family and relatives who can help in the search;
3. Call the POLICE to make an occurrence report and have friends and family conduct a basic land search of the neighbourhood;
4. If your child has not turned up after conducting the telephone and land search, file a MISSING CHILD REPORT;
5. Provide the police with your complete and updated CHILD ID KIT. Also if you have a recent home video provide this as well. Lastly, try to remember what your child was wearing when you last saw them.
6. Put together a search party to conduct a complete physical search of your area.
7. Remember to ALWAYS leave somebody at home at all times to answer the telephone.
8. KEEP the phone lines FREE at all times.
9. Contact your
10. ACT quickly. Time is of the essence.
11. Continue your search even when you have not had any good leads.
12. Tell anyone and everyone your story. Try to get the support of local media to tell your story and help in the search.
13. Plaster your child’s photograph everywhere!
14. Keep a record of all the agencies and people you have contacted to help in the search so that you can follow up with them in the future.
SAFETY TIPS AND IDEAS FOR FAMILIES
There are a number of things parents can teach their children to strengthen their child’s personal power and confidence.
Here are a couple of ideas the RCMP recommend:
1. Teach children their NAME, especially their last name, and depending their age eventually their telephone number, address and how to dial 911;
2. Have young children always hold an adult’s hand when walking to and from stores, school grounds, playgrounds, etc;
3. Teach children that they must stay with you when in public places and not to wander off. If they do get lost teach them they should find a person who works at the store, e.g. the person at the cash register, to tell right away;
4. Teach them the “BUDDY” system and to use it no matter what their age is, to always travel in groups;
5. Teach them to NEVER accept anything from strangers no matter what;
6. Have a FAMILY CODE WORD that only the family knows. The code can enable children to identify “safe” people.
7. Teach children that it is okay to say NO in situations they don’t feel comfortable;
8. Teach them if anyone tries to grab them, to make lots of noise, scream loudly, shout, “THIS PERSON IS NOT MY PARENT”;
9. When children are older, make a place in the home where communication is kept such as a pad of paper and a pen to write notes to each other where you are, etc., along with a list of emergency numbers; and
10. NEVER label your child’s backpack or personal items with their name as strangers can use this information.
INTERESTING FACTS
1. Females are more likely to go missing than males and are more often victims;
2. The majority of children reported missing are 14 years of age or older;
3. The majority of those accused of child abduction were male;
IMPORTANT SUMMER INFORMATION
How much water should we be drinking especially in the hot summer months? The rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in water (ounces).
For children, infants ages birth – 2 years old (6-26 pounds) should be drinking 3 – 6 cups of water per day.
For children, 2 – 12 years old (26-100 pounds) should be drinking 4 – 8 cups of water per day.
Please note that all tips are offered as suggestions only. While we have tried to provide you with some suggestions to help parents keep their kids safe and the importance of Child ID Kits, unfortunately we cannot think of everything and it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children’s safety.
Check us out on Facebook (Childproofers BC), Twitter (ChildproofersBC) and Blogspot (Child Safety BC) for regular updates. Links to these sites will be posted.
Erin Johnston
Child Safety Professionals www.childsafetyprofessionals.com
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