In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are concerned with your child’s health and safety during the winter season. Below are some valuable tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to keep your children safe and warm.

What to Wear

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Clothing for children should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.

• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.

• Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.

• If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet.

• As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy. His speech may become slurred and his body temperature will decline.

• If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.

Frostbite

• Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that her skin burns or has become numb.

• If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm(not hot) water. 104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.

• Do not rub the frozen areas.

• After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or blankets. Give him something warm to drink.

• If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.

Winter Health

• If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.

• Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant’s first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.

• Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.

• Children between 6 months and 18 years of age should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.

Winter Sports and Activities

Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play to prevent frostbite. Have children come inside periodically to warm up.

Ice Skating

• Allow children to skate only on approved surfaces. Check for signs posted by local police or recreation departments, or call your local police department to find out which areas have been approved.

• Advise your child to: skate in the same direction as the crowd; avoid darting across the ice; never skate alone; not chew gum or eat candy while skating.

• Consider having your child wear a helmet while ice skating.

Sledding

• Keep sledders away from motor vehicles.

• Children should be supervised while sledding.

• Keep young children separated from older children.

• Sledding feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first, may prevent head injuries.

• Consider having your child wear a helmet while sledding.

• Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner tubes.

• Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp edges and splinters, and the steering mechanism should be well lubricated.

• Sled slopes should be free of obstructions like trees or fences, be covered in snow not ice, not be too steep (slope of less than 30º), and end with a flat runoff.

• Avoid sledding in crowded areas.

Snow Skiing and Snowboarding

• Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a qualified instructor in a program designed for children.

• Never ski or snowboard alone.

• Young children should always be supervised by an adult. Older children’s need for adult supervision depends on their maturity and skill. If older children are not with an adult, they should always at least be accompanied by a friend.

• The AAP recommends that children under age 7 not snowboard.

• Consider wearing a helmet.

• Equipment should fit the child. Skiers should wear safety bindings that are adjusted at least every year. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built-in wrist guards.

• Slopes should fit the ability and experience of the skier or snowboarder. Avoid crowded slopes.

• Avoid skiing in areas with trees and other obstacles.

Snowmobiling

• The AAP recommends that children under age 16 not operate snowmobiles and that children under age 6 never ride on snowmobiles.

• Do not use a snowmobile to pull a sled or skiers.

• Wear goggles and a safety helmet approved for use on motorized vehicles like motorcycles.

• Travel at safe speeds.

• Never use alcohol or other drugs before or during snowmobiling.

• Never snowmobile alone or at night.

• Stay on marked trails, away from roads, water, railroads and pedestrians.

Sun Protection

The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.

Fire Protection

Winter is a time when household fires occur. It is a good time to remember to: .

• Buy and install smoke alarms on every floor of your home

• Test smoke alarms monthly

• Practice fire drills with your children

For more information about weather safety and child health, visit www.aap.org

Christmas Safety Tips

In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are concerned with your child’s safety during the holidays. Below are some safety tips for the holidays from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for you and your family.

General Christmas Safety Tips

• Make sure Christmas trees are well anchored and watered so they do not become a fire hazard.

• Keep all breakable Christmas ornaments, electrical extensions and burning objects (candles, incense and potpourri pots) out of small children’s reach.

• Make sure your fireplace is screened and all trees, presents, and children are kept away from fire.

• When wrapping presents keep scissors out of children’s hands.

• Make sure infants and toddlers don’t play with ribbon.

• When involving children in holiday baking make sure adults handle all of the hot items.

• While shopping never let your children out of your sight.

• If your child is lost in a mall or department store, make sure you have your child’s Ident-A-Kid card available and demand that the store take appropriate action.

• Follow all age guidelines on toys and do not deviate.

• Teach children not to succumb to temptation of toys or candy in a shopping environment.

• Request an escort back to your car when you are finished shopping at night.

• Never leave your children unattended in a car.

• Create well-supervised activities for children during Christmas break.

Toy Safety Tips for Holiday Shoppers

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.

• For infants, toddlers and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts that could pose a fatal choking hazard.

• Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.

• For all children under age 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

• Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.

• Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age recommendations and use that information as a guide.

• Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings

For more information about safety during the holidays, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/

What to Do When Your Child is Choking

In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are concerned with your child’s physical well-being. Children are known for putting things in their mouths that are too small and can block the airway. Due to this, you and your family should be aware of some general CPR techniques. Below is some information provided by the American Heart Association about how to tell when your child is choking and what you should do.

Signs of Choking

Choking occurs when something blocks the airway. When the airway is completely blocked, the child cannot breathe. Choking can be a frightening emergency. But if you act quickly, you can help the child breathe.

If the child can speak or cough loudly, the child's airway is only partly blocked. You should not try to open the airway. If you are worried about the child's breathing, phone 9-1-1.

Signs of choking in the child with a completely blocked airway are

• The child suddenly begins to cough, gag or have high-pitched, noisy breathing
• An older child may make the choking sign (holding the neck with one or both
hands)
• The child has bluish lips or skin

Actions to Relieve Choking in a Child

When a child is choking and can't breathe or speak, you must give abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). The Heimlich maneuver pushes air from the child's lungs like a cough. This can help remove the blocking object. You should give abdominal thrusts until the object is forced out or the victim becomes unresponsive.

1. If you think a child is choking, ask the child "Are you choking?" If he
nods, tell him you are going to help.
2. Kneel or stand firmly behind him and wrap your arms around him so that your
hands are in front.
3. Make a fist with one hand.
4. Put the thumb side of your fist slightly above the navel (belly button) and
well below the breastbone.
5. Grasp the fist with your other hand and give quick upward thrusts into his
abdomen.
6. Give thrusts until the object is forced out and he can breathe, cough, or
talk or until he stops responding.

If the choking is not relieved, the child will become unresponsive. When the child becomes unresponsive, shout for help, lower the child to the ground, and start CPR. If someone else is present, send that person to phone 9-1-1 while you start CPR.
The steps of CPR of the child who has become unresponsive after choking are the same, with one addition.

1. Yell for help. If someone comes, send that person to phone your emergency
response number (or 911) and get the AED if available.
2. Lower the victim to the ground, faceup. If you are alone with the child
victim, start the steps of CPR.
3. Every time you open the airway to give breaths, open the victim's mouth wide
and look for the object. If you see an object, remove it with your
fingers. If you do not see an object, keep giving sets of 30 compressions
and two breaths until an AED arrives, the victim starts to move, or trained
help takes over.
4. After about five cycles or two minutes, if you are alone, leave the child
victim to call your emergency response number (or 911) and get the AED if
available.

Chest compressions may force the object out. If you are alone with the child and these steps don't work after about one minute, phone 9-1-1.

Reviewed/Updated: 10/28/2008
For more information, visit http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3025002 or www.americanheart.org

In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with your child’s physical and emotional well-being. Bullies can seriously disrupt a child’s emotional and psychological wellness. A good way to guard against these disruptions is to simply be aware that bullying is a serious problem and not just something to be cast aside as normal child behavior. Below is a good description of bullying, why kids bully, signs that your child is being bullied, and some advice to give your children about how to deal with bullies or avoid bullies provided by kidshealth.org.

What Is Bullying?

Most kids have been teased by a sibling or a friend at some point. And it's not usually harmful when done in a playful, friendly, and mutual way, and both kids find it funny. But when teasing becomes hurtful, unkind, and constant, it crosses the line into bullying and needs to stop.

Bullying is intentional tormenting in physical, verbal, or psychological ways. It can range from hitting, shoving, name-calling, threats, and mocking to extorting money and treasured possessions. Some kids bully by shunning others and spreading rumors about them. Others use email, chat rooms, instant messages, social networking websites, and text messages to taunt others or hurt their feelings.

It's important to take bullying seriously and not just brush it off as something that kids have to "tough out." The effects can be serious and affect kids' sense of self-worth and future relationships. In severe cases, bullying has contributed to tragedies, such as school shootings.

Why Do Kids Bully?

Kids bully for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they pick on kids because they need a victim — someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker, or just acts or appears different in some way — to feel more important, popular, or in control. Although some bullies are bigger or stronger than their victims, that's not always the case.

Sometimes kids torment others because that's the way they’ve been treated. They may think their behavior is normal because they come from families or other settings where everyone regularly gets angry, shouts, or calls names. Some popular TV shows even seem to promote meanness — people are "voted off," shunned, or ridiculed for their appearance or lack of talent.

Signs of Bullying

Unless your child tells you about bullying — or has visible bruises or injuries — it can be difficult to figure out if it's happening.

But there are some warning signs. You might notice your child acting differently or seeming anxious, or not eating, sleeping well, or doing the things that he or she usually enjoys. When kids seem moodier or more easily upset than usual, or when they start avoiding certain situations, like taking the bus to school, it may be because of a bully.

If you suspect bullying but your child is reluctant to open up, find opportunities to bring up the issue in a more roundabout way. For instance, you might see a situation on a TV show and use it as a conversation starter, asking "What do you think of this?" or "What do you think that person should have done?" This might lead to questions like: "Have you ever seen this happen?" or "Have you ever experienced this?" You might want to talk about any experiences you or another family member had at that age.

Let your child know that if he or she is being bullied — or sees it happening to someone else — it's important to talk to someone about it, whether it's you, another adult (a teacher, school counselor, or family friend), or a sibling.

Helping Kids

If your child tells you about a bully, focus on offering comfort and support, no matter how upset you are. Kids are often reluctant to tell adults about bullying. They feel embarrassed and ashamed that it's happening. They worry that their parents will be disappointed.

Sometimes kids feel like it's their own fault, that if they looked or acted differently it wouldn't be happening. Sometimes they're scared that if the bully finds out that they told, it will get worse. Others are worried that their parents won't believe them or do anything about it. Or kids worry that their parents will urge them to fight back when they're scared to.

Praise your child for being brave enough to talk about it. Remind your child that he or she isn't alone — a lot of people get bullied at some point. Emphasize that it's the bully who is behaving badly — not your child. Reassure your child that you will figure out what to do about it together.

Sometimes an older sibling or friend can help deal with the situation. It may help your daughter to hear how the older sister she idolizes was teased about her braces and how she dealt with it. An older sibling or friend may also be able to give you some perspective on what's happening at school, or wherever the bullying is happening, and help you figure out the best solution.

Take it seriously if your hear that the bullying will get worse if the bully finds out that your child told. Sometimes it's useful to approach the bully's parents. In other cases, teachers or counselors are the best ones to contact first. If you've tried those methods and still want to speak to the bullying child's parents, it's best to do so in a context where a school official, such as a counselor, can mediate.

Many states have bullying laws and policies. Find out about the laws in your community. In certain cases, if you have serious concerns about your child's safety, you may need to contact legal authorities.

Advice for Kids

The key to helping kids is providing strategies that deal with bullying on an everyday basis and also help restore their self-esteem and regain a sense of dignity.

It may be tempting to tell a kid to fight back. After all, you're angry that your child is suffering and maybe you were told to "stand up for yourself" when you were young. And you may worry that your child will continue to suffer at the hands of the bully.

But it's important to advise kids not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back. It can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, it's best to walk away from the situation, hang out with others, and tell an adult.

Here are some other strategies to discuss with kids that can help improve the situation and make them feel better:

Avoid the bully and use the buddy system. Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker when there is nobody around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully. Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess — wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend.

Hold the anger. It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar. Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to wear a "poker face" until they are clear of any danger (smiling or laughing may provoke the bully).

Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cell phone. By ignoring the bully, you're showing that you don't care. Eventually, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.

Tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help stop bullying.

Talk about it. Talk to someone you trust, such as a guidance counselor, teacher, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful suggestions, and even if they can't fix the situation, it may help you feel a little less alone.

Remove the incentives. If the bully is demanding your lunch money, start bringing your lunch. If he's trying to get your music player, don't bring it to school.

Reaching Out

At home you can lessen the impact of the bullying. Encourage your kids to get together with friends that help build their confidence. Help them meet other kids by joining clubs or sports programs. And find activities that can help a child feel confident and strong. Maybe it's a self-defense class like karate or a movement or other gym class.

And just remember: as upsetting as bullying can be for you and your family, lots of people and resources are available to help.

To learn more about child safety and bullying, visit kidshealth.org or http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html#

Bicycle Safety For You and Your Child

In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with your child’s physical safety. Each year approximately 250 children ages 14 and under are killed in bicycle-related incidents. 90% of bicycle related deaths (all ages) are the result of collisions with motor vehicles. Children between the ages of 5 and 14 have a death rate more than two times the death rate of all other bicycle riders. The fatality rate rises rapidly beginning at about age 4 and is the highest among 12 to 14-year olds. In 1994, almost 400,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in emergency rooms for bicycle related injuries. Approximately 10 percent of these injuries were related to collisions with motor vehicles. Children ages 14 and under are approximately six times more likely to be injured than children ages 15 and older from bicycle-related crashes. Children ages 4 and under are also at risk from bicycle related deaths and injuries. In 1993, six children were killed, more than 10,000 suffered from head injuries and more than 22,000 suffered from face injuries. Below are some rules about bicycle safety that you can teach your children, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet. Protect your brain, save your life. For more information see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publication “Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet.”

Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.

Check Your Equipment. Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.

See and Be Seen. Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.

Control Your Bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.

Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards. Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash. If you are riding with friends and you are in the lead, yell out and point to the hazard to alert the riders behind you.

Avoid Riding at Night. It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because you are harder for others to see. If you have to ride at night, wear something that makes you more easily seen by others. Make sure you have reflectors on the front and rear of your bicycle (white lights on the front and red rear reflectors are required by law in many States), in addition to reflectors on your tires, so others can see you.

Rules of the Road – Bicycling on the Road
Bicycles in many States are considered vehicles, and cyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities to follow the rules of the road as motorists. When riding, always:

Go With the Traffic Flow. Ride on the right in the same direction as other vehicles. Go with the flow – not against it.

Obey All Traffic Laws. A bicycle is a vehicle and you’re a driver. When you ride in the street, obey all traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.

Yield to Traffic When Appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield (wait) for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and you are coming from a smaller roadway (out of a driveway, from a sidewalk, a bike path, etc.), you must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before proceeding. This also means yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

Be Predictable. Ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Signal your moves to others.

Stay Alert at All Times. Use your eyes AND ears. Watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make you lose control of your bike. You need your ears to hear traffic and avoid dangerous situations; don’t wear a headset when you ride.

Look Before Turning. When turning left or right, always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left- or right-turning traffic.

Watch for Parked Cars. Ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening, or cars pulling out).

Sidewalk versus Street Riding
The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street, where bicycles are expected to follow the same rules of the road as motorists and ride in the same direction.

Children less than 10 years old, however, are not mature enough to make the decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.

Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.

For anyone riding on a sidewalk:

Check the law in your State or jurisdiction to make sure sidewalk riding is allowed.

Watch for vehicles coming out of or turning into driveways.

Stop at corners of sidewalks and streets to look for cars and to make sure the drivers
see you before crossing.

Enter a street at a corner and not between parked cars. Alert pedestrians that you are near by saying, “Excuse me,” or, “Passing on your left,” or use a bell or horn.

For more information about bicycle safety for you and your child, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Stop the Spreading of Germs

In addition to child identification and child safety, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with the physical health of your child. Below are some tips from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov on how to prevent and stop the spreading of germs.

How Germs Spread

The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread."
This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

How to Stop the Spread of Germs

In a nutshell: take care to

• Cover your mouth and nose
• Clean your hands often
• Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

The "Happy Birthday" song helps keep your hands clean?

Not exactly. Yet we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice!

Alcohol-Based Hand Wipes and Gel Sanitizers Work Too

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

Germs and Children

Remind children to practice healthy habits too, because germs spread, especially at school.
The flu has caused high rates of absenteeism among students and staff in our country's 119,000 schools. Influenza is not the only respiratory infection of concern in schools -- nearly 22 million schools days are lost each year to the common cold alone. However, when children practice healthy habits, they miss fewer days of school.

More Facts, Figures, and How-Tos

For more information on how to prevent and stop the spreading of germs, visit

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm
Or
www.cdc.gov

Going To and From School...The Rules You and Your Child Should Know

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition to child identification, we are also concerned with your child’s safety when going to and from school. As you and your children settle into the school routine, important safety tips and precautions should be given top priority. In addition to making sure that you have an up-to-date Ident-A-Kid card for your child’s Identification, you should make sure that you are aware of some tips that can aid you in keeping your child safe. Also, your child should know some important rules about going to and from school in order to keep them safe. Below are some tips and rules about going to and from school from a publication put out by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. These, and other tips and rules for child safety, can be found at www.missingkids.com.

Know the Rules...For Going To and From School More Safely

Every day millions of children take to the streets and highways to get to and from school. For many children this experience is a new one and they may not understand or be able to use the safety rules. Young children do not have the same frame of reference for safety as adults do. They may not “look before they leap,” which is why it is so important for families to supervise young children and practice safety skills with their older children to make certain they really know and understand them. The tips noted below will help prepare for a safer journey.

Tips for Parents and Guardians

Instruct your children to always TAKE A FRIEND, always stay in well-lit areas, never take shortcuts, and never go into isolated areas. Teach them to stay aware of their surroundings and observe all traffic rules in place to more safely share the roads and sidewalks with others.
Walk the route to and from school with your children pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Make the walk to and from school a "teachable moment" and chance to put their skills to the test. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to and from school. If your children wait for a bus, wait with them or make arrangements for supervision at the bus stop.

If anyone bothers your children or makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused, while going to or from school, teach your children to trust their feelings, immediately get away from that person, and TELL you or another trusted adult. If an adult approaches your children for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children for help; they should ask other adults. Instruct your children to never accept money or gifts from anyone unless you have told them it is OKAY to accept in each instance.

Even though there can be more safety in numbers it is still not safe for young children to walk to and from school, especially if they must take isolated routes anytime during the day or in darkness. Always provide supervision for your young children to help ensure their safe arrival to and from school.

Instruct your children to leave items and clothing with their name on them at home. If anyone calls out their name, teach them to not be fooled or confused. Teach your children about the tricks someone may try to use to confuse them or engage them in conversation. Children should also be taught that they do not need to be polite if approached and to get out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible

Ensure current and accurate emergency contact information is on file for your children at their school. If you, or another trusted family member or friend, need to pick your children up, make sure to follow the school’s departure procedures. These procedures need to include the school’s confirmation of your children’s departure with only those you authorize to pick them up.

Teach your children if anyone tries to take them somewhere they should quickly get away and yell, “This person is trying to take me away” or “This person is not my father/mother/guardian.” Teach your children to make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting if anyone tries to grab them.

Teach your children if anyone follows them on foot to get away from that person as quickly as possible. If anyone follows them in a vehicle they should turn around, go in the other direction, and try to quickly get to a spot where a trusted adult may help them. Advise them to be sure to TELL you or another trusted adult what happened.

Instruct your children to never leave school with anyone until they've checked with a trusted adult. If anyone tells them there is an emergency and they want your children to go with them, teach your children to always CHECK FIRST with you before doing anything. Also teach your children to always CHECK FIRST with you if they want to change their plans before or after school. Make sure your children always play with other children, have your permission to play in specific areas, and let you know where they are going to be. Instruct your children to TELL a trusted adult if they notice anyone they don’t know or feel comfortable with hanging around them.

In the event your children may be lost or injured, make sure they carry a contact card with your name and telephone numbers such as work and cellular. This card should be hidden from plain view.

Key Tips to Reinforce With Your Children

Always TAKE A FRIEND with you when walking, biking, or standing at the bus stop. Make sure you know your bus number and which bus to ride.

Say NO if anyone you don’t know or a person who makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused offers a ride unless I have told you it is OKAY to do so in each instance.

Quickly get away and yell, “THIS PERSON IS NOT MY MOTHER/FATHER/GUARDIAN” if anyone tries to take you somewhere or is following you. If anyone tries to grab you, make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.

NEVER LEAVE SCHOOL GROUNDS before the regular school day ends. Always check with the office before leaving school early.

NEVER take shortcuts or walk through alleys to get to or from school faster. We will talk about which way to go to and from school. Remind me if activities you participate in cause you to leave earlier or arrive home later than usual. Remember to call me once you have arrived home.


For more information about child safety, visit The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or call 1-800-THE-LOST (800-843-5478)

Family Locator Service from Sprint

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition to child identification, we are concerned about your child’s safety. Sprint’s Family Locator is a great way to know where your child is if he/she is carrying their cell phone. Below is some information from www.nextel.com about Sprint’s Family Locator.

Sprint Family Locator is the convenient, reliable and secure way to find family members—instantly— from any Web-enabled mobile phone or any computer connected to the Web.

Key Features

Real-time interactive satellite maps with street addresses and landmarks
Safety ChecksSM. Send automatic notifications of child's location on specific days and at precise times.

See where children have been by using maps featuring 7 days of historical locations.

Send text messages to the children you're locating from your phone or the web.

Access is password-protected so only authorized parents and guardians can locate children.

What You will Need

Phones

Parents & Guardians. You can locate your children from any web-enabled computer or mobile phone after you sign up online.

Children. You don't need to install anything on the phones you wish to locate. Sprint Family Locator uses the GPS technology already built-in to every Sprint phone, so it is compatible with every Sprint phone.

Plan and Plan Add-Ons

Once you've signed up for Sprint Family Locator, no additional add-ons are necessary to use the service. However, since the service sends text messages to phones when they are located, you may want to add a Messaging add-on to your plan to avoid per-message fees.

If you would like to locate your child from your phone, you can simply point your mobile web browser to www.SFLmobile.com and sign on. There is no additional charge to use the mobile Web application once you've signed up, however, a data transfer fee of $.03 may apply without a data pack or data-included plan.

Pricing
Sprint Family Locator - $5/mo. per family (includes up to 4 locatable phones per family).

For more information about Sprint’s Family Locator, visit www.nextel.com or http://www.nextel.com/en/services/gps/family_locator.shtml

Check out this Halloween Safety Game that you and your children can play to make sure they are ready for Halloween safety!

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition to child identification, we are also concerned with your child’s safety when engaging in the upcoming Halloween festivities. It is vitally important to make sure you and your child know all that you can in order to keep your child safe. Below are some safety rules, provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department at www.lafd.org, about before, during, and after trick-or-treating and some safe alternatives for you, your family, and your community.

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:
1. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
2. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
3. Secure an Ident-A-Kid child identification card somewhere in your child’s costume and with you as well.
4. Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.
5. When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.
6. Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
7. Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
8. Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.
9. This is also a great time to buy fresh batteries for your home Smoke Alarms.
10. Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.
11. Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
12. Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.
13. Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.
14. Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.
15. Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.

FUN ALTERNATIVES:
1. Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.
2. Community Centers, Shopping Malls and Houses of Worship may have organized festivities.
3. Share the fun by arranging a visit to a Retirement Home or Senior Center.
4. Create an alliance with College Fraternities, Sororities or Service Clubs for children's face painting or a carnival.

BEFORE NIGHTFALL ON HALLOWEEN:
1. A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
2. Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.
3. While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O' Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
4. Always keep Jack O' Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.
5. Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.
6. Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
7. Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.
8. Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins or a cell phone for non-emergency phone calls.
9. Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags. Consult your veterinarian for further advice.
10. Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
11. Adult partygoers should establish and reward a designated driver.

WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:
A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
Remind Trick-or-Treaters:
1. By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.
2. Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.
3. Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.
4. Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
5. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
6. Never cut across yards or use alleys.
7. Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
8. Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.
9. Always walk. Never run across a street.
10. Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).
11. Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
12. Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.
13. Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.
14. No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.
15. Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:
1. Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
2. Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
3. Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.


We wish you a safe and happy Halloween!

To learn more about Halloween safety from the Los Angeles Fire Department, visit http://www.lafd.org/hween.htm

Fire Safety

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition child identification, we are also concerned with your child’s physical safety. Did you know that having a working smoke alarm in your house reduces the chances of dying in a fire by ½? In preparation of fire safety week, October 4-10, we have put together some fire safety tips for you and your family. The U.S. Fire Administration provides some very good fire safety tips below.

Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1-14. Children ages 5 and under are at a greater risk from home fire-related death and injury, with a fire death rate 1.5 times the national average. This is because they are less aware of danger, have less control over their environment, and limited ability to act correctly during an emergency.

The U.S. has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. For 1998, the U.S. fire death rate was 14.9 deaths per million population. Between 1994 and 1998, an average of 4,400 Americans lost their lives and another 25,100 were injured annually as the result of fire. About 100 firefighters are killed each year in duty-related incidents. Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the home; at least 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in residences. About 2 million fires are reported each year. Many others go unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion annually.
• Teach children not to play with matches, lighters, flares, fireworks and gasoline cans. Keep matches, lighters, gasoline and other flammable materials out of the sight and reach of children.
• Keep a fire extinguisher (“ABC” symbol) in the kitchen and garage. Be sure it is “UL” or “FM” rated.
• Install smoke detectors in your home in every bedroom and on every level. Test them monthly. Replace the batteries at least once each year.
• Plan and practice fire escape routes from the house. Choose a meeting place, a safe distance outside the house.
• Never leave small children alone in the kitchen or bathroom – for even a few seconds.
• In the kitchen, use back burners and turn pot handles to the back of the stove so that pots do not get knocked over.
• If grease catches fire, smother the flames with a pan lid – never throw water on a grease fire.
• Never carry children and hot foods or liquids at the same time.
• Lower your water heater to 120 degrees or buy an anti-scald device.
• In the bathroom, always test the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub. Place one hand in the water with fingers wide, and move it back and forth for several seconds checking for hot spots.
• Never touch connected electrical appliances or cords with wet hands of feet. Do not reach for radios, telephones, or hair dryers while in the bath or shower.
• Unplug appliances when they are not being used. Unplug any appliances that smokes or smells as if it is burning, then have it repaired or replace it.
• Do not overload extension cords or run them under rugs.
• Keep furnaces and wood-burning stoves working well. Make sure they are not near combustible walls, ceilings, furniture or drapes.
For more information about fire safety, visit the U.S. Fire Administration website,
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/

SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH YOUR CHILD

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition to child identification, we are also concerned with your child’s safety when traveling in a car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, www.nhtsa.gov, has issued some safety tips to follow when traveling with your child. Below is a tip that involves traveling with your school-age child that we here at Ident-A-Kid think is very important. For more information on safety when traveling with your child, visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/newtips/index.htm

TRAVELING SAFELY WITH PRESCHOOL & SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
A child should stay in a child safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, until about 4 years old. If the child's shoulders are above the top set of harness slots, a combination child seat/booster seat with higher harness slots is a good choice.



• A child over 4 years old may be ready for a booster seat. Booster seats make the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt fit properly. They keep the lap belt from causing injury to the child's abdomen and keep the shoulder belt in place to give the child upper body protection.
• Some younger children may outgrow the weight limit of their child safety seat with a harness and may not be ready to stay seated properly in a booster seat. Look for a child restraint with a higher weight limit.
• All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4' 9" tall. Always make sure the child fits the adult safety belt properly.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR OLDER CHILDREN
• Backless belt-positioning booster seats: Use the vehicle lap and shoulder belt and provide good belt fit on the child. Some older types may come with a removable shield; remove the shield and use the seat with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
• High-back belt-positioning booster seats: Use the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Some are combination child seat/booster seats with a removable harness: They can be used with the harness for a younger child under 40 pounds and then as a belt-positioning booster seat for an older child.
• Specialized restraints include child safety seats with harness labeled for use over 40 pounds, and other harness or shield type restraints. Check for a label stating seat meets federal safety standards. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT RESTRAINT FOR THE CHILD AND VEHICLE
• A belt-positioning booster seat is the best choice if the car has combination lap and shoulder belts in the rear seat, and the child has outgrown the forward facing seat.
• If the child's ears come above the top of the vehicle seat, use a booster seat with a high back to improve neck protection. A specialized restraint may also be an option.
• A combination child seat/booster seat with a removable harness may fit a child from OVER age 1 to age 8 or more. Check the label for the weight limit on the harness.
• If the vehicle only has lap belts it's safer for a child to use a lap belt than to ride without any restraint. Be sure to keep the lap belt low and snug across the thighs. If the lap belt rides up on the stomach it could cause serious injuries in a crash. Other options could include having shoulder belts installed.
WHY USE A BOOSTER SEAT INSTEAD OF AN ADULT SAFETY BELT?
• Safety belts were designed for adults. Until age 8, most children have not developed strong hipbones, and their legs and body are too short to allow for proper fit of a safety belt.
• Many young children do not sit still enough or straight enough to keep lap belts low across their thighs. A belt that rides up on the tummy could cause serious internal injuries.
• Booster seats are comfortable for children because they allow their legs to bend normally, and they enjoy being able to see out of the window.
USING A BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT

• Place the booster seat flat on vehicle seat.
• Sit the child on the booster seat, place the lap and shoulder belt over the child and buckle the safety belt.
• Adjust the lap belt so it lays snugly across child's upper thighs, not across the tummy.
• Adjust the shoulder belt and thread through shoulder belt positioner (if available) so that shoulder belt lays snugly across the center of the child's shoulder. Check safety belt fit often.
• Buckle the booster seat in even when the child is not in it. A loose booster seat can injure others in a crash.
WHEN IS A CHILD READY FOR THE ADULT SAFETY BELT?

• To be able to fit a safety belt, a child must:
 Be tall enough to sit without slouching,
 Keep his/her back against the vehicle seat back,
 Keep his/her knees completely bent over the edge of the seat,
 Keep his/her feet flat on the floor, and
 Be able to stay comfortably seated this way.
• The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the center of the shoulder and across the chest.
• NEVER put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back. This can cause severe head injuries or internal injuries in a crash. If the safety belt does not fit properly the child should use a belt-positioning booster seat.
• Always check belt fit on the child in every vehicle. A belt-positioning booster seat may be needed in some vehicles and not in others.

For more information, contact the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT
(1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov

10 Things Parents Should Know About the H1N1 Virus / Swine Flu

Information Parents Should Know About the H1N1 Virus, or, Swine Flu
In addition to child identification and child safety, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with the physical health of your child. The H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu has been a serious topic of concern among parents, schools, and officials across the country. It is important to make sure that you and your children are fully aware of the symptoms of Swine Flu and the risks that are present. It is also important to know how to guard against these risks to be sure you and your children stay healthy. Below is a list provided by Education.com of 10 things you should know about how to prevent and stop the spreading of the H1N1 virus.
1. Focus on the Obvious: Make sure to wash your hands often and for at least 30 seconds (as long as it takes to sing the ABC’s). Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and rest. Keep your hands to yourself and don’t share utensils or food. Don’t handle other people’s food and don’t let anyone handle your food. When you have to sneeze or cough, if there isn’t a tissue available, sneeze or cough into your elbow.
2. Teach Kids that Five Feet is the Magic Number: Make sure your child knows to keep their distance away from someone who is coughing, sneezing, or sniffling, even if it seems rude. 5 feet of distance is a good amount of space to leave between you and someone that appears to be ill.
3. Wipe Down Surfaces Regularly: Make sure to wipe down all the surfaces that you and your family touches the most with disinfectant. Surfaces like the handle of a refrigerator, handrails, counters, and the outsides of garbage cans collect germs all day long. It is important to keep those surfaces clean.
4. Be Prepared to Take Time Off: According to the WHO, we are in a pandemic. In a real pandemic 1 in 3 people have the disease or carry it. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) say that parents should be prepared to keeps kids home for 7 days and at least 24 hours once their fever is gone. Make sure that you have a plan for who will take care of your child if he/she becomes sick. Kids can be contagious for as long as 10 days, but are most contagious from the day before they show symptoms to 5-7 days afterwards. Understand that Quarantine May be Necessary: H1N1 is highly contagious. The best way to keep the rest of the family safe is to confine the child that’s ill to a certain part of the home. If there is more than one bathroom, then have your child use one that no one else can use. Although it may seem insensitive, masking yourself around your sick child may also be a good idea in order to prevent the spread of the virus. To minimize spreading, try to have only one parent take care of the child.
5. Consider the H1N1 Vaccine: A vaccine for H1N1 is in the works. According to the CDC, it may be available as early as October. To be effective, though, kids need two doses, spaced several weeks apart, so they will not be fully protected until late winter. Because the vaccines are being rushed to market, there will also not be that much time for testing them. Discuss with your partner how you feel about the H1N1 vaccine, so you’re prepared to act upon its release.
6. Invest in a Can of Disinfectant: Coughing, sneezing, and talking causes tiny droplets to fall to the ground by gravity. You can fight some of these germs with a can of disinfectant with a high alcohol content. Spray it in the center of the room, in a circular motion. That’s a good weapon against something, like flu, that primarily spreads through the air.
7. Keep Tabs on Your Child’s Friends: One of the CDC's prevention recommendations for school administrators is “social distancing”: moving desks further apart, dividing classes into smaller groups, holding classes outside or in larger classrooms, and taking other measures to limit each child’s proximity to someone who might be sick. Keeping your child home and locked in her bedroom is obviously over the top, but it makes sense to check with a friend’s parent before a play date to make sure no one in the household is sick, and to keep your child away from any family with cold symptoms.
8. Avoid Public Transportation: If at all possible, the CDC recommends skipping the school bus and public transit during the heart of H1N1 season.
9. Get the Facts Straight: Although H1N1 is also known as swine flu, it cannot be transmitted by eating pork or spending time on a farm. It is also not transmitted through pool water. The main way H1N1 spreads is through person-to-person contact— usually by being near someone who is sick and is coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Red Flags for H1N1:
If your child becomes sick with flu-like symptoms and experiences any of the following CDC warning signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
For more information about the H1N1 Virus, symptoms, and how to prevent it, visit: www.education.com. For the article that these tips and tricks came from, visit: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/H1N1forparents/.

Child Internet Safety

Here at Ident-A-Kid, in addition child identification, we are also concerned with your child’s safety when they are online. The Federal Bureau of Investigations www.fbi.gov has issued a pamphlet on your child’s internet safety. Below are some highlights from the pamphlet that we here at Ident-A-Kid think are very important. For more information on internet safety, visit


One thing that is important to be aware of are the signs that indicate that your child might be at risk when they are online. The Federal Bureau of Investigations outline the following indicators of internet risk:

1. Your child spends a large amount of time on the internet, especially at night
• Many children that fall victim to computer sex offenders are those who spend a lot of time on the internet and internet chat rooms. Children who spend a lot of time online are looking to chat with friends, make new friends, find information, and just generally pass the time. Sometimes children spend a lot of their time looking for sexually explicit information as well. Parents should be acutely aware of the time their child is spending on the internet and what they are doing while online
• Many sexual offenders spend their evenings searching for pornography and trying to locate or lure children. Children are at the greatest risk when they are online during the evening hours. However, it is important to remember that these things can happen at any time of the day as well.

2. You find pornography on the computer your child uses.
• Sexual offenders will often give their potential victims pornography in order to start sexual conversations. Child pornography is sometimes used by offenders to show children that sex between adults and children is “okay.” Your child may also try to hide the pornography by putting it on a separate drive, like a flash drive. Be sure to know what is on your children’s electronic devices.

3. Your child is making or receiving calls from people you don’t recognize or numbers you don’t recognize.
• Sex offenders will try to get your child to talk on the telephone to either set up a meeting or engage your child in explicit conversations. Although your child may not give out his/her number, the offender will give the child their number. The offender may also ask the child to call collect or the offender may set up an 800 number so that the parents will not find out.

4. Your child is receiving mail, gifts, or packages from someone you do not know.
• Offenders will commonly send their potential victims letters, photos, gifts, or even plane tickets. It is important to know what your children are receiving and who they are receiving it from.

5. When you come into the room your child quickly turns off the computer monitor or changes the screen on the monitor.
• If your child does this, they may be trying to hide that they are looking at pornography or having explicit conversations.



6. Your child has become withdrawn from the family.
• Offenders will take any chance they can to drive distance between you and your child. They may accentuate minor problems at home in order to do this. If your child has been sexually victimized, he/she may also withdraw from the family and those close to them.

7. Your child is using an online account that belongs to someone else.
• Your child may be using the internet at a friend’s house or at the library. Computer sex offenders sometimes will provide potential victims with a computer account so that your child can communicate with them.

If you suspect your child is communicating with a sexual predator online, the Federal Bureau of Investigation gives the following suggestions as to what steps can be taken to ensure your child’s safety:

1. Talk openly about your child about your suspicions and tell them what dangers are out there involving computer sex offenders.
2. Review what is on your child’s computer. While using the internet browser select tools, then internet options. This way you can look through the internet history on the computer.
3. Use Caller ID service and use the telephone company’s service to block your number from showing on other Caller IDs. You can also use the telephone company’s service to reject numbers that you specifically block. This will help to prevent sex offenders from calling your home anonymously.
4. Monitor your child’s access to live electronic communication like chat rooms, instant messaging, etc. and child’s email.


Should any of the following situations arise in your household, via the Internet or on-line service, you should immediately contact your local or state law enforcement agency, the FBI, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children:
1. Your child or anyone in the household has received child pornography;
2. Your child has been sexually solicited by someone who knows that your child is under 18 years of age;
3. Your child has received sexually explicit images from someone that knows your child is under the age of 18.

• If one of these scenarios occurs, keep the computer turned off in order to preserve any evidence for future law enforcement use. Unless directed to do so by the law enforcement agency, you should not attempt to copy any of the images and/or text found on the computer.


For more information about internet safety, visit http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/parentsguide.pdf or www.fbi.gov

Back to School Child Safety

As you and your children transition into the back-to-school routine, important safety tips and precautions should be given top priority. In addition to making sure that you have an up-to-date Ident-A-Kid card for your child’s Identification, The U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have compiled ten Tips for Parents or Guardians for back to school safety.

1. Instruct your children to always take a friend, always stay in well-lit areas, never take shortcuts, and never go into isolated areas. Teach them to stay aware of their surroundings and observe all traffic rules in place to more safely share the roads and sidewalks with others.

2. Walk the route to and from school with your children pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they're being followed or need help. Make the walk to and from school a "teachable moment" and chance to put their skills to the test. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to and from school. If your children wait for a bus, wait with them or make arrangements for supervision at the bus stop.

3. If anyone bothers your children or makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused, while going to or from school, teach your children to trust their feelings, immediately get away from that person, and tell you or another trusted adult. If an adult approaches your children for help or directions, remember grownups needing help should not ask children for help; they should ask other adults. Instruct your children to never accept money or gifts from anyone unless you have told them it is okay to accept in each instance.

4. Even though there can be safety in numbers it is still not safe for young children to walk to and from school, especially if they must take isolated routes anytime during the day or in darkness. Always provide supervision for your young children to help ensure their safe arrival to and from school.

5. Instruct your children to leave items and clothing with their name on them at home. If anyone calls out their name, teach them to not be fooled or confused. Teach your children about the tricks someone may try to use to confuse them or engage them in conversation. Children should also be taught that they do not need to be polite if approached and to get out of the situation as quickly and safely as possible.

6. Ensure current and accurate emergency contact information is on file for your children at their school. If you, or another trusted family member or friend, need to pick your children up, make sure to follow the school's departure procedures. These procedures need to include the school's confirmation of your children's departure with only those you authorize to pick them up.

7. Teach your children if anyone tries to take them somewhere they should quickly get away and yell, "This person is trying to take me away" or "This person is not my father/mother/guardian." Teach your children to make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting if anyone tries to grab them.

8. Teach your children if anyone follows them on foot to get away from that person as quickly as possible. If anyone follows them in a vehicle they should turn around, go in the other direction, and try to quickly get to a spot where a trusted adult may help them. Advise them to be sure to tell you or another trusted adult what happened.

9. Instruct your children to never leave school with anyone until they've checked with a trusted adult. If anyone tells them there is an emergency and they want your children to go with them, teach your children to always check first with you before doing anything. Also teach your children to always check first with you if they want to change their plans before or after school. Make sure your children always play with other children, have your permission to play in specific areas, and let you know where they are going to be. Instruct your children to tell a trusted adult if they notice anyone they don't know or feel uncomfortable with hanging around them.

10. In the event your children may be lost or injured, make sure they carry a contact card with your name and telephone numbers such as work and cellular. This card should be hidden from plain view.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also highlight the following 5 tips to reinforce with your children:

1. Always TAKE A FRIEND with you when walking, biking, or standing at the bus stop. Make sure you know your bus number and which bus to ride.

2. Say NO to anyone you don’t know or a person who makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused

3. Quickly get away and YELL, “THIS PERSON IS NOT MY MOTHER/FATHER/GUARDIAN” if anyone tries to take you somewhere or is following you. If anyone tries to grab you, make a scene and every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.

4. NEVER LEAVE SCHOOL GROUNDS before the regular school day ends. Always check with the office and me before leaving school early.

5. NEVER take shortcuts or walk through alleys to get to or from school. We will talk about which way to go to and from school. Remind me if activities you participate in cause you to leave earlier or arrive home later than usual. Remember to call me once you have arrived home.

For more information or to see the source of these Child Safety Tips, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Website at www.missingkids.com

In addition to providing parents child identification cards, Ident-A-Kid also helps keep children safe at school by providing schools with our Complete Campus Security Solution (CCSS) software. This comprehensive visitor management tool is donated by Ident-A-Kid to the schools in the communities they serve.

CCSS allows schools to easily track all visitors and issue a variety of ID badges, including photo, by just pointing and clicking. Your campus can be a safer place by printing “on demand” Visitor, Volunteer, Substitute, and Student passes. Also, an archived photo can be automatically taken of each visitor or their driver’s license can be scanned at Check In for positive ID. Additionally, this software enables you to instantly check to see if new visitors are listed as convicted sexual offenders in the U.S. Department of Justice’s national database.

Our Complete Campus Security Solution has many features!
· CCSS is very user friendly
· We have a toll-free support line to call for any questions (800-890-1000)
· CCSS can track all visitors that are on the school’s campus
· CCSS can also track students leaving early or arriving late
· CCSS can track Employees, Substitutes, and Contractors
· CCSS can track volunteers by the date and time
· New RFID JiffyPass™ Badges make Checking In and Out quick and easy for frequent visitors
· CCSS has a link provided for the U.S. Dept of Justice’s Convicted Sexual Offenders Database
· Seven variable badge categories (school’s choice)
· Frequent visitor list for fast processing
· Password-protected utilities and reporting
· Archival capability
· User Help screens with FAQs and Operational Procedures
· NO CONTRACTS – Free Software Upgrades!

There are many Optional Features for CCSS!
· Optional Driver’s License Scanner
· Optional Double Dymo Printer for printing badges and late slips
· Optional Photo Capture of all Check-Ins for positive ID
· Optional Badge Description field for bilingual translation or detailed instruction
· Option for automatic Check-Out
· Optional Barcode Reader
· Touch Screen Compatible
For more information or to order Complete Campus Security Solution software for your school today, just visit http://www.betoosafe.com/ and click Orders or call your local Ident-A-Kid program director.

Child Safety Education

Even though child identification is a big aspect of our business, Ident-A-Kid is committed to child safety and the protection of children. This is why Ident-A-Kid has partnered the Child Rescue Network, a non-profit charity dedicated to protecting children. As part of our partnership many of our Ident-A-Kid Program Directors have received several hours of child safety training by the Child Rescue Network and have become Certified Child Safety Representatives. They have become certified in order to be able to provide educational programs for parents. They can come to your church, PTA, HOA, or other venues to help parents teach their children to become aware of possible dangerous situations and how to react to these situations. Just contact the Child Rescue Network at 877-209-5437 ext. 81 to find out about scheduling a program with a representative near you. Below is a list of our Program Directors certified by CRN and their area.
v Barbara Sandler – Southeast Florida
v Linda Emery – Southwest Florida
v Leslea Amidon – Northeast Florida
v David Fields – New York City
v Lillian Dorazio – New Hampshire
v Jerry Devine – Rhode Island
v Joyce Gold – Pennsylvania
v LuEllen Rierson – Southeast North Carolina
v Kirk Cox – Southeast South Carolina
v Delores Parker – Oklahoma
v De De White – Alabama

More information can be found at www.childrescuenetwork.org

Child Safety Rules

It is so important for you and your child to know some general safety rules. Learning and practicing some general safety rules can better prepare you and your child to make the right decisions about safety. Rather than have your children be afraid of their environment, teaching them these few, simple rules can assist them in knowing how to react to situations where they feel there might be trouble. Teaching them these rules can also help your child to be better able to recognize and avoid a potentially dangerous situation. It doesn’t take long, only a couple hours set aside to practice and learn. Just click on the links below provided by the Child Rescue Network (CRN) and you can download and print a child and adult version of CRN’s child safety rules.
http://www.childrescuenetwork.org/images/crnsafetyrules-parentedition.pdf
http://www.childrescuenetwork.org/images/crnsafetyrulesabreviated-childedition.pdf
These Child Safety Rules are provided by and can also be located at www.childrescuenetwork.org

Make sure to update your child's Ident-A-Kid card!

It is a great idea to get an Ident-A-Kid card for your child, but you have to be sure to keep it up-to-date!

Why get a new Ident-A-Kid card every year when I can just get one for my child and renew it in a few years? This is a question that is frequently asked of us here at Ident-A-Kid. According to the World Health Organization at www.who.int, children between the ages of 5 and 19 can grow from 2 to 4 inches and gain up to 10 pounds per year! Also, according to www.thetech.org, children’s hair color can change or darken as they grow older; going from a blonde head of hair to brunette. All this growing and changing can make a very big difference in your child’s appearance. It is very important to have an up-to-date, accurate picture and description of your child at all times. With an accurate description of your child, he/she can be found much easier and more efficiently if lost or missing. Not having the right weight, height or hair color can greatly hinder the search for a missing child.

Ident-A-Kid is Now In the Blogosphere

Ident-A-Kid has been at the forefront of child safety for 23 years. We reach millions of parents through our 200 franchise locations in 40 states.

We plan to use this new medium (to us) to communicate general topics concerning child safety.

Please feel free to post your comments and feedback to us.