In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid want you to know the criteria guidelines for issuing an Amber Alert. We think this is important because every parent should know what to do and when to do it when their child is missing. Remember, in addition to these guidelines, it is also important to have an Ident-A-Kid card. Also, another important and useful tool is Ident-A-Kid’s new eKid-ID. eKid-ID is an electronic version of the Ident-A-Kid card that is sent to your phone as a picture message. The eKid-ID can be sent to friends and neighbors in the event that your child is missing. It can also be useful to law enforcement efforts to recover your lost child. To find out more about Ident-A-Kid and our new eKid-ID, please visit our website at www.identakid.com. Below are some helpful guidelines and tips for issuing an Amber Alert, from amberalert.gov.
Guidelines for Issuing AMBER Alerts
Every successful AMBER plan contains clearly defined activation criteria. The following guidance is designed to achieve a uniform, interoperable network of plans across the country, and to minimize potentially deadly delays because of confusion among varying jurisdictions. The following are criteria recommendations:
Law Enforcement Confirms an Abduction
AMBER plans require law enforcement to confirm an abduction prior to issuing an alert. This is essential when determining the level of risk to the child. Clearly, stranger abductions are the most dangerous for children and thus are primary to the mission of an AMBER Alert. To allow activations in the absence of significant information that an abduction has occurred could lead to abuse of the system and ultimately weaken its effectiveness. At the same time, each case must be appraised on its own merits and a judgment call made quickly. Law enforcement must understand that a “best judgment” approach, based on the evidence, is appropriate and necessary.
Risk of Serious Bodily Injury or Death
Plans require a child be at risk for serious bodily harm or death before an alert can be issued. This element is clearly related to law enforcement’s recognition that stranger abductions represent the greatest danger to children. The need for timely, accurate information based on strict and clearly understood criteria is critical, again keeping in mind the “best judgment” approach.
Sufficient Descriptive Information
For an AMBER Alert to be effective in recovering a missing child, the law enforcement agency must have enough information to believe that an immediate broadcast to the public will enhance the efforts of law enforcement to locate the child and apprehend the suspect. This element requires as much descriptive information as possible about the abducted child and the abduction, as well as descriptive information about the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle. Issuing alerts in the absence of significant information that an abduction has occurred could lead to abuse of the system and ultimately weaken its effectiveness.
An Ident-A-Kid card and an eKid-ID are important tools in the aid of having a detailed description of your child and a picture of your child. With the eKid-ID, law enforcement can have a digital picture of your child that you both can circulate in order to increase your chances of finding your child.
Age of Child
Every state adopt the “17 years of age or younger” standard; or, at a minimum, agree to honor the request of any other state to issue an AMBER Alert, even if the case does not meet the responding state’s age criterion, as long as it meets the age criterion of the requesting state. Most AMBER plans call for activation of the alert for children under a certain age. The problem is that age can vary---some plans specify 10, some 12, some 14, 15, and 16. Differences in age requirements create confusion when an activation requires multiple alerts across states and jurisdictions. Overuse of the AMBER Alert system will undermine its effectiveness as a tool for recovering abducted children.
NCIC Data Entry
Immediately enter AMBER Alert data into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. Text information describing the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the child should be entered, and the case flagged as a Child Abduction. Many plans do not mandate entry of the data into NCIC, but this omission undermines the entire mission of the AMBER Alert initiative. The notation on the entry should be sufficient to explain the circumstances of the disappearance of the child. Entry of the alert data into NCIC expands the search for an abducted child from the local, state, or regional level to the national. This is a critical element of any effective AMBER Alert plan.
For more information about Amber Alerts and guidelines, please visit http://www.amberalert.gov/guidelines.htm
For more information about Child Identification and Ident-A-Kid, please visit www.identakid.com
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with your child’s physical well being. Because April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we have found some information from the Child Welfare Information Gateway, about prevention programs that you can use in order to make sure your children and the children in your community are kept safe.
The statistics can feel overwhelming. In 2006, an estimated 905,000 children in the United States were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect. However, child abuse and neglect can be prevented. State and local governments, community organizations, and private citizens take action every day to protect children. You can help.
Research has shown that parents and caregivers who have support—from family, friends, neighbors, and their communities—are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes for their children. When parents lack this support or feel isolated, on the other hand, they may be more likely to make poor decisions that can lead to neglect or abuse.
Increasingly, concerned citizens and organizations are realizing that the best way to prevent child abuse is to help parents develop the skills and identify the resources they need to understand and meet their children's emotional, physical, and developmental needs and protect their children from harm.
Prevention Programs
Prevention activities are conducted by many State, local, and Tribal governments, as well as community and faith-based organizations. The services they provide vary widely.
Some prevention services are intended for everyone, such as public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at raising awareness about child abuse within the general population. Others are specifically targeted for individuals and families who may be at greater risk of child abuse or neglect. An example of this might be a parenting class for single teen mothers. Some services are developed specifically for families where abuse or neglect has already occurred, to reduce the negative effects of the abuse and prevent it from happening again.
Common activities of prevention programs include:
Public awareness, such as PSAs, posters, and brochures that promote healthy parenting, child safety, and how to report suspected abuse
Skills-based curricula that teach children safety and protection skills. Many of these programs focus on preventing sexual abuse
Parent education to help parents develop positive parenting skills and decrease behaviors associated with child abuse and neglect
Parent support groups, where parents work together to strengthen their families and build social networks
Home visitation, which focuses on enhancing child safety by helping pregnant mothers and families with new babies or young children learn more about positive parenting and child development
Respite and crisis care programs, which offer temporary relief to caregivers in stressful situations by providing short-term care for their children
Family resource centers, which work with community members to develop a variety of services to meet the specific needs of the people who live in surrounding neighborhoods.
Two elements have been shown to make prevention programs more effective, regardless of the type of service or intended recipients. Involving parents in all aspects of program planning, implementation, and evaluation helps ensure that service providers are working in true partnership with families. Parents are more likely to make lasting changes when they are empowered to identify solutions that make sense for them.
Another key to success is providing prevention services that are evidence based. This means that rather than relying on assumptions or "common sense," research has been conducted to demonstrate that a particular service improves outcomes for children and families. This helps service providers feel confident in what they are doing. It can also help justify a program's continued funding when resources are scarce.
Protective Factors
Prevention programs have long focused on reducing particular risk factors, or conditions that have been found through research to be associated with child abuse and neglect in families. Increasingly, prevention services are also recognizing the importance of promoting protective factors, conditions in families and communities that research has shown to increase the health and well-being of children and families. These factors help parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing or neglecting their children to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress.
The following protective factors have been linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect:
Nurturing and attachment. When parents and children have strong, warm feelings for one another, children develop trust that parents will provide what they need to thrive.
Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development. Parents who understand how children grow and develop can provide an environment where children can live up to their potential.
Parental resilience. Parents who are emotionally resilient have a positive attitude, creatively problem solve, effectively address challenges, and are less likely to direct anger and frustration at their children.
Social connections. Trusted and caring family friends provide emotional support to parents by offering encouragement and assistance in facing the daily challenges of raising a family.
Concrete supports for parents. Parents need basic resources such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and access to essential services that address family-specific needs (such as child care, health care, and mental health services) to ensure the health and well-being of their children.
How You Can Help
Parenting is one of the toughest and most important jobs in America, and we all have a stake in ensuring that parents have access to the resources and support they need to be successful. Entire communities play a role in helping families find the strength they need to raise safe, healthy, and productive children.
Here are some things you can do:
Get to know your neighbors. Problems seem less overwhelming when support is nearby.
Help a family under stress. Offer to babysit, help with chores and errands, or suggest resources in the community that can help.
Reach out to children in your community. A smile or a word of encouragement can mean a lot, whether it comes from a parent or a passing stranger.
Be an active community member. Lend a hand at local schools, community or faith-based organizations, children's hospitals, social service agencies, or other places where families and children are supported.
Keep your neighborhood safe. Start a Neighborhood Watch or plan a local "National Night Out" community event. You will get to know your neighbors while helping to keep your neighborhood and children safe.
Learn how to recognize and report signs of child abuse and neglect. Reporting your concerns may protect a child and get help for a family who needs it.
For more information about this topic, please visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway at www.childwelfare.gov
For more information about child identification and safety, please visit our website at www.identakid.com
The statistics can feel overwhelming. In 2006, an estimated 905,000 children in the United States were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect. However, child abuse and neglect can be prevented. State and local governments, community organizations, and private citizens take action every day to protect children. You can help.
Research has shown that parents and caregivers who have support—from family, friends, neighbors, and their communities—are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes for their children. When parents lack this support or feel isolated, on the other hand, they may be more likely to make poor decisions that can lead to neglect or abuse.
Increasingly, concerned citizens and organizations are realizing that the best way to prevent child abuse is to help parents develop the skills and identify the resources they need to understand and meet their children's emotional, physical, and developmental needs and protect their children from harm.
Prevention Programs
Prevention activities are conducted by many State, local, and Tribal governments, as well as community and faith-based organizations. The services they provide vary widely.
Some prevention services are intended for everyone, such as public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at raising awareness about child abuse within the general population. Others are specifically targeted for individuals and families who may be at greater risk of child abuse or neglect. An example of this might be a parenting class for single teen mothers. Some services are developed specifically for families where abuse or neglect has already occurred, to reduce the negative effects of the abuse and prevent it from happening again.
Common activities of prevention programs include:
Public awareness, such as PSAs, posters, and brochures that promote healthy parenting, child safety, and how to report suspected abuse
Skills-based curricula that teach children safety and protection skills. Many of these programs focus on preventing sexual abuse
Parent education to help parents develop positive parenting skills and decrease behaviors associated with child abuse and neglect
Parent support groups, where parents work together to strengthen their families and build social networks
Home visitation, which focuses on enhancing child safety by helping pregnant mothers and families with new babies or young children learn more about positive parenting and child development
Respite and crisis care programs, which offer temporary relief to caregivers in stressful situations by providing short-term care for their children
Family resource centers, which work with community members to develop a variety of services to meet the specific needs of the people who live in surrounding neighborhoods.
Two elements have been shown to make prevention programs more effective, regardless of the type of service or intended recipients. Involving parents in all aspects of program planning, implementation, and evaluation helps ensure that service providers are working in true partnership with families. Parents are more likely to make lasting changes when they are empowered to identify solutions that make sense for them.
Another key to success is providing prevention services that are evidence based. This means that rather than relying on assumptions or "common sense," research has been conducted to demonstrate that a particular service improves outcomes for children and families. This helps service providers feel confident in what they are doing. It can also help justify a program's continued funding when resources are scarce.
Protective Factors
Prevention programs have long focused on reducing particular risk factors, or conditions that have been found through research to be associated with child abuse and neglect in families. Increasingly, prevention services are also recognizing the importance of promoting protective factors, conditions in families and communities that research has shown to increase the health and well-being of children and families. These factors help parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing or neglecting their children to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress.
The following protective factors have been linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect:
Nurturing and attachment. When parents and children have strong, warm feelings for one another, children develop trust that parents will provide what they need to thrive.
Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development. Parents who understand how children grow and develop can provide an environment where children can live up to their potential.
Parental resilience. Parents who are emotionally resilient have a positive attitude, creatively problem solve, effectively address challenges, and are less likely to direct anger and frustration at their children.
Social connections. Trusted and caring family friends provide emotional support to parents by offering encouragement and assistance in facing the daily challenges of raising a family.
Concrete supports for parents. Parents need basic resources such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and access to essential services that address family-specific needs (such as child care, health care, and mental health services) to ensure the health and well-being of their children.
How You Can Help
Parenting is one of the toughest and most important jobs in America, and we all have a stake in ensuring that parents have access to the resources and support they need to be successful. Entire communities play a role in helping families find the strength they need to raise safe, healthy, and productive children.
Here are some things you can do:
Get to know your neighbors. Problems seem less overwhelming when support is nearby.
Help a family under stress. Offer to babysit, help with chores and errands, or suggest resources in the community that can help.
Reach out to children in your community. A smile or a word of encouragement can mean a lot, whether it comes from a parent or a passing stranger.
Be an active community member. Lend a hand at local schools, community or faith-based organizations, children's hospitals, social service agencies, or other places where families and children are supported.
Keep your neighborhood safe. Start a Neighborhood Watch or plan a local "National Night Out" community event. You will get to know your neighbors while helping to keep your neighborhood and children safe.
Learn how to recognize and report signs of child abuse and neglect. Reporting your concerns may protect a child and get help for a family who needs it.
For more information about this topic, please visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway at www.childwelfare.gov
For more information about child identification and safety, please visit our website at www.identakid.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Spring Break Safety
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with you and your family’s safety during the Spring Break holiday. Spring break is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark days of winter and have some fun in the sun. Keep your family safe while on your trip by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Also, do not forget to have your Ident-A-Kid card with you at all times!
Sun Safety for Babies
• Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun.
• Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.
Sun Safety for Kids
• Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child’s back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.
• Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective.
• When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child’s face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for protecting your child’s eyes.
• If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.
Sun Safety for the Family
• The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
• The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
• Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
• When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
• Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
• Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
• Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.
• Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
Beach Tips *
• Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard
• Never swim alone.
• Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a current, don’t try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore until clear of the current.
• Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.
• Watch out for traffic – some beaches allow cars.
©American Academy of Pediatrics 2/10 – For more information about safety for your child, please visit www.aap.org
Spring break is also a time when your teen and college-age child will be thinking about going on vacation themselves. Whether your child has arranged a Spring Break vacation with a group of friends or is spending it at home she’ll be at risk. If you’re at work you won’t be there to check who she’s spending her time with and what she’s doing. Below are some tips from Supernanny.com for you and your family about how to make sure your child will be safe when going on Spring Break vacation.
Research suggests that Spring Break is a prime time for teenagers to start smoking (including smoking marijuana) and drinking. Girls are more vulnerable than boys when it comes to risky behavior – but no child is invincible and no matter how sensible yours is, it’s likely they’ll come under pressure from friends to do things they know they shouldn’t. Without the guidance of adult supervision you need to know your child has some Spring Break safety rules in place…
1 Keep up communication
Ensure your child’s cellphone is fully charged and if it’s a pay-as-you go phone make sure she has sufficient funds to call you. Your home and cellphone numbers should be programmed into her phone – it’s a good idea to program them in as ‘emergency contact 1’, ‘emergency contact 2’ and so on so that the authorities will immediately know who to contact in case of accidents. She also needs to program in the phone number of the local sheriff’s office and/or police department and, if she’s going abroad, the number of your local embassy and the general emergency services number (keep in mind that it isn’t 911 everywhere you go).
Make sure her cellphone service will be available wherever she’s going – if not, give her some money to purchase a pay-as-you-go phone once she arrives (she should immediately program in her list of emergency numbers) or provide her with a phonecard. You need contact numbers for the hotel or rental where she’ll be staying, and all of her friends.
2 Stress that there’s safety in numbers
Tell her to stick to the buddy system and remains with a group of other teens at all times. She mustn’t go anywhere on her own or go anywhere with a stranger she has just met, especially if she’s out of town in unfamiliar territory.
If your teen is traveling outside of the US, register her with the state department – it means the nearest US embassy or consulate can locate both you and her in the event of an emergency and to pass on travel warnings
3 Prepare early for international travel
Passports are now required for air or sea travel between the US and Mexico, Central and South America, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This means your child’s passport is at risk of being stolen so tell her to deposit it in her hotel’s safe as soon as she checks in. Provide her with a photocopy of it that she can stash in her luggage as a fallback, and keep a photocopy of it yourself, along with a copy of her driver’s license. If she’s flying, keep a copy of her itinerary including flight numbers and times.
Get clued into airline security if your child is flying. The Transport Security Administration has up-to-date advice on new rules for take-on baggage. Make it crystal clear to your child that inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated by airline security, and could result in her and her friends missing their flight and being taken into custody by local law enforcement.
4 Stay in touch with other parents
If your child is going away with a group of friends, make sure you have contact numbers for all their parents. Check with them in regard to what kind of rules they’ve laid down for their child’s behavior and activities on Spring Break and see if you can all coordinate so that all of the children are following the same guidelines.
Before your child leaves, role play some situations with her so she can practice how to say no to alcohol and drugs, even if it’s her friends who are pressuring her to take them.
5 Warn your child off alcohol
This is particularly important if she’s traveling abroad, where the rules governing drinking may be different or more lax that they are in the US. Make sure your child is aware of how alcohol could affect her judgment and behavior, especially if she’ll be driving. You should also explain how it might relax her inhibitions when it comes to sex. She should also know the signs of alcohol poisoning, which include semi-consciousness, slow breathing and cold clammy, pale or bluish skin.
Explain to her that it’s possible for her drink to be spiked with drugs such as Rohypnol that could put her at risk of sexual assault. Warn her not to drink soda that someone else has opened for her, not to accept drinks from strangers and not to leave her drink unattended (if she has to for some reason she should get a new drink and discard the old one).
6 Speak to her about drugs
Tell your child not to accept any pills from strangers – or her friends – and not to smoke anything that might be marijuana. If she is traveling abroad, do some research to find out what the penalties are for being found in possession of drugs – in some countries, a jail sentence is the norm.
7 Teach her some useful phrases
If your child will be traveling in a country where English isn’t the first language, make sure she learns some phrases to use if there is any kind of emergency, such as “I need a doctor”, “I need help” or “Call the police”.
For more information about Spring Break safety for your child, please visit www.supernanny.com
For more information about Child Safety and Identification, please visit www.identakid.com
Sun Safety for Babies
• Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade under a tree, umbrella or stroller canopy. It is okay to apply a small amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months if there is no way to avoid the sun.
• Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs, and use brimmed hats.
Sun Safety for Kids
• Choose sunscreen that is made for children, preferably waterproof. Before covering your child, test the sunscreen on your child’s back for an allergic reaction. Apply carefully around the eyes, avoiding eyelids. If a rash develops, talk with your pediatrician.
• Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics. Cotton clothing is both cool and protective.
• When using a cap with a bill, make sure the bill is facing forward to shield your child’s face. Sunglasses with UV protection are also a good idea for protecting your child’s eyes.
• If your child gets sunburn that results in blistering, pain or fever, contact your pediatrician.
Sun Safety for the Family
• The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
• The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
• Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
• When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
• Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
• Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
• Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.
• Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.
Beach Tips *
• Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard
• Never swim alone.
• Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a current, don’t try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore until clear of the current.
• Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off the beach in case of lightning.
• Watch out for traffic – some beaches allow cars.
©American Academy of Pediatrics 2/10 – For more information about safety for your child, please visit www.aap.org
Spring break is also a time when your teen and college-age child will be thinking about going on vacation themselves. Whether your child has arranged a Spring Break vacation with a group of friends or is spending it at home she’ll be at risk. If you’re at work you won’t be there to check who she’s spending her time with and what she’s doing. Below are some tips from Supernanny.com for you and your family about how to make sure your child will be safe when going on Spring Break vacation.
Research suggests that Spring Break is a prime time for teenagers to start smoking (including smoking marijuana) and drinking. Girls are more vulnerable than boys when it comes to risky behavior – but no child is invincible and no matter how sensible yours is, it’s likely they’ll come under pressure from friends to do things they know they shouldn’t. Without the guidance of adult supervision you need to know your child has some Spring Break safety rules in place…
1 Keep up communication
Ensure your child’s cellphone is fully charged and if it’s a pay-as-you go phone make sure she has sufficient funds to call you. Your home and cellphone numbers should be programmed into her phone – it’s a good idea to program them in as ‘emergency contact 1’, ‘emergency contact 2’ and so on so that the authorities will immediately know who to contact in case of accidents. She also needs to program in the phone number of the local sheriff’s office and/or police department and, if she’s going abroad, the number of your local embassy and the general emergency services number (keep in mind that it isn’t 911 everywhere you go).
Make sure her cellphone service will be available wherever she’s going – if not, give her some money to purchase a pay-as-you-go phone once she arrives (she should immediately program in her list of emergency numbers) or provide her with a phonecard. You need contact numbers for the hotel or rental where she’ll be staying, and all of her friends.
2 Stress that there’s safety in numbers
Tell her to stick to the buddy system and remains with a group of other teens at all times. She mustn’t go anywhere on her own or go anywhere with a stranger she has just met, especially if she’s out of town in unfamiliar territory.
If your teen is traveling outside of the US, register her with the state department – it means the nearest US embassy or consulate can locate both you and her in the event of an emergency and to pass on travel warnings
3 Prepare early for international travel
Passports are now required for air or sea travel between the US and Mexico, Central and South America, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This means your child’s passport is at risk of being stolen so tell her to deposit it in her hotel’s safe as soon as she checks in. Provide her with a photocopy of it that she can stash in her luggage as a fallback, and keep a photocopy of it yourself, along with a copy of her driver’s license. If she’s flying, keep a copy of her itinerary including flight numbers and times.
Get clued into airline security if your child is flying. The Transport Security Administration has up-to-date advice on new rules for take-on baggage. Make it crystal clear to your child that inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated by airline security, and could result in her and her friends missing their flight and being taken into custody by local law enforcement.
4 Stay in touch with other parents
If your child is going away with a group of friends, make sure you have contact numbers for all their parents. Check with them in regard to what kind of rules they’ve laid down for their child’s behavior and activities on Spring Break and see if you can all coordinate so that all of the children are following the same guidelines.
Before your child leaves, role play some situations with her so she can practice how to say no to alcohol and drugs, even if it’s her friends who are pressuring her to take them.
5 Warn your child off alcohol
This is particularly important if she’s traveling abroad, where the rules governing drinking may be different or more lax that they are in the US. Make sure your child is aware of how alcohol could affect her judgment and behavior, especially if she’ll be driving. You should also explain how it might relax her inhibitions when it comes to sex. She should also know the signs of alcohol poisoning, which include semi-consciousness, slow breathing and cold clammy, pale or bluish skin.
Explain to her that it’s possible for her drink to be spiked with drugs such as Rohypnol that could put her at risk of sexual assault. Warn her not to drink soda that someone else has opened for her, not to accept drinks from strangers and not to leave her drink unattended (if she has to for some reason she should get a new drink and discard the old one).
6 Speak to her about drugs
Tell your child not to accept any pills from strangers – or her friends – and not to smoke anything that might be marijuana. If she is traveling abroad, do some research to find out what the penalties are for being found in possession of drugs – in some countries, a jail sentence is the norm.
7 Teach her some useful phrases
If your child will be traveling in a country where English isn’t the first language, make sure she learns some phrases to use if there is any kind of emergency, such as “I need a doctor”, “I need help” or “Call the police”.
For more information about Spring Break safety for your child, please visit www.supernanny.com
For more information about Child Safety and Identification, please visit www.identakid.com
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Making Day Light Savings Time Safe for Kids
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are concerned about your child’s safety. With Daylight Savings time just getting started, it is sometimes still dark when your child is going to school. Below is some information from the Office of Highway Safety about how to make sure your child is safe when walking to and from school when it may be dark outside.
When Winter turns to Spring, we know that it stays dark longer in the morning. But what we may not realize is that this also means that more children will be traveling to and from school in the dark, which puts them at greater risk of injuries from traffic crashes.
There are many things you can do to help your kids--or the kids in your neighborhood--get to school each morning and reach home safely at the end of the day.
First, you can help them learn and practice this important safety rule: Be Seen To Be Safe. Let kids know that during the day and at dawn and dusk, they should wear bright or fluorescent clothing. These colors (day-glo green, hot pink, or construction worker orange) amplify light and help the wearer stand out in a crowd. However, at night, these colors appear to be black, so kids should carry a flashlight and/or wear retro reflective gear that reflects light back to its source so motorists can see them. A motorist will quickly detect a child walking with a lit flashlight, or riding on a bike with an attached headlight and flashing taillight. And when combined with retro reflective gear or strips of retro reflective tape on their jacket, shoes, cap, helmet, or backpack, a child’s odds of being seen are even more greatly improved. The sooner motorists are alerted to something--like a child--moving up ahead, the sooner they can react. Pedestrians should also always walk against traffic on roadways without sidewalks.
Second, you can help kids remember to “stop, look left-right-left, and listen” before stepping off the curb, even where there is a traffic signal. Accompany your children when they walk to and from school as often as possible.
Third, you can remind kids to avoid “jaywalking” and crossing from between parked vehicles. Crosswalks are safer and more visible, especially after dark. Motorists can also help by paying special attention to safe driving rules in low-light conditions. First, and most important, you must be alert if you are on the road after dark. Watch carefully for children who may be walking or riding their bikes. Always drive at a safe speed, especially on unlit or winding roads or when using low beams. Never pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing.
To help increase your ability to see at night, be sure to take off your sunglasses at dusk. Wipe off your headlights regularly, and keep your windshield clean, both inside and out. Adjust the rearview mirror to the “night” setting to avoid headlight glare. If you need to use your high beams on an unlit road, be sure to turn them off when another car approaches.
For more information, please visit http://www.scdps.org/szs/daylight_savings.htm
To learn more about Child Identification, please visit www.identakid.com
When Winter turns to Spring, we know that it stays dark longer in the morning. But what we may not realize is that this also means that more children will be traveling to and from school in the dark, which puts them at greater risk of injuries from traffic crashes.
There are many things you can do to help your kids--or the kids in your neighborhood--get to school each morning and reach home safely at the end of the day.
First, you can help them learn and practice this important safety rule: Be Seen To Be Safe. Let kids know that during the day and at dawn and dusk, they should wear bright or fluorescent clothing. These colors (day-glo green, hot pink, or construction worker orange) amplify light and help the wearer stand out in a crowd. However, at night, these colors appear to be black, so kids should carry a flashlight and/or wear retro reflective gear that reflects light back to its source so motorists can see them. A motorist will quickly detect a child walking with a lit flashlight, or riding on a bike with an attached headlight and flashing taillight. And when combined with retro reflective gear or strips of retro reflective tape on their jacket, shoes, cap, helmet, or backpack, a child’s odds of being seen are even more greatly improved. The sooner motorists are alerted to something--like a child--moving up ahead, the sooner they can react. Pedestrians should also always walk against traffic on roadways without sidewalks.
Second, you can help kids remember to “stop, look left-right-left, and listen” before stepping off the curb, even where there is a traffic signal. Accompany your children when they walk to and from school as often as possible.
Third, you can remind kids to avoid “jaywalking” and crossing from between parked vehicles. Crosswalks are safer and more visible, especially after dark. Motorists can also help by paying special attention to safe driving rules in low-light conditions. First, and most important, you must be alert if you are on the road after dark. Watch carefully for children who may be walking or riding their bikes. Always drive at a safe speed, especially on unlit or winding roads or when using low beams. Never pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing.
To help increase your ability to see at night, be sure to take off your sunglasses at dusk. Wipe off your headlights regularly, and keep your windshield clean, both inside and out. Adjust the rearview mirror to the “night” setting to avoid headlight glare. If you need to use your high beams on an unlit road, be sure to turn them off when another car approaches.
For more information, please visit http://www.scdps.org/szs/daylight_savings.htm
To learn more about Child Identification, please visit www.identakid.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ident-A-Kid and CCSS in the News!
Check out the video below to see Ident-A-Kid and CCSS in the news. News channel KETV 7 in Omaha, NE did a news story about CCSS in the schools.
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with your child's safety when he or she is in school. Ident-A-Kid donates our Complete Campus Security Solution software to schools as a way to give back to the communities and help schools keep their students safe. Complete Campus Security Solution, or CCSS allows schools to easily track all visitors and issue a variety of ID badges, including photo, by just pointing and clicking. Your child's 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 drivers 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.
To find out more about Ident-A-Kid and CCSS please visit,
www.identakid.com
or
www.betoosafe.com
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with your child's safety when he or she is in school. Ident-A-Kid donates our Complete Campus Security Solution software to schools as a way to give back to the communities and help schools keep their students safe. Complete Campus Security Solution, or CCSS allows schools to easily track all visitors and issue a variety of ID badges, including photo, by just pointing and clicking. Your child's 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 drivers 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.
To find out more about Ident-A-Kid and CCSS please visit,
www.identakid.com
or
www.betoosafe.com
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Introducing The New eKid-ID!
In addition to our regular Ident-A-Kid cards, we would like to introduce the electronic Ident-A-Kid card, eKid-ID. In case of emergency, your cell phone is likely to be the first thing you grab. With your child’s eKid-ID stored directly on your cell phone, you can immediately distribute his or her information to authorities, friends, and neighbors. They can forward the information to their contacts, significantly increasing the chances of quickly locating your child. This service is offered free from Ident-A-Kid as a bonus when you purchase multiple Ident-A-Kid cards.
We here at Ident-A-Kid think this is a very important service to have available. If your child is going on a trip with a friend’s family or just going out with them for a night of fun, think of how easy it would be to send your child’s eKid-ID to the accompanying parent’s cell phones. This way, each chauffeur has a copy of your child’s picture, your contact information, and details about your child’s appearance.
What if you are leaving for the evening and your children are staying with or going on an outing with a babysitter? You can easily send your babysitter a copy of your eKid-ID so that he or she can keep it with them. This way, if the child is taken or leaves the house, the babysitter has current information about your child that he or she can easily give to local law enforcement, neighbors, or people in the area.
Another good use for your eKid-ID is when your child is flying unaccompanied and meeting someone at the airport. You can electronically send the person meeting your child at their destination the eKid-ID. This way, the person meeting your child can have a copy of you and your child’s information and will be able to show it immediately to security if there is a problem or as a preventative measure.
You can even send it to your email address so that you have a copy of it on your computer. If your child is lost or missing, the eKid-ID gives you the ability to send out a current picture, fingerprint, and identifying information immediately upon realizing something is wrong.
Find out more about getting an eKid-ID for your child by visiting www.identakid.com
We here at Ident-A-Kid think this is a very important service to have available. If your child is going on a trip with a friend’s family or just going out with them for a night of fun, think of how easy it would be to send your child’s eKid-ID to the accompanying parent’s cell phones. This way, each chauffeur has a copy of your child’s picture, your contact information, and details about your child’s appearance.
What if you are leaving for the evening and your children are staying with or going on an outing with a babysitter? You can easily send your babysitter a copy of your eKid-ID so that he or she can keep it with them. This way, if the child is taken or leaves the house, the babysitter has current information about your child that he or she can easily give to local law enforcement, neighbors, or people in the area.
Another good use for your eKid-ID is when your child is flying unaccompanied and meeting someone at the airport. You can electronically send the person meeting your child at their destination the eKid-ID. This way, the person meeting your child can have a copy of you and your child’s information and will be able to show it immediately to security if there is a problem or as a preventative measure.
You can even send it to your email address so that you have a copy of it on your computer. If your child is lost or missing, the eKid-ID gives you the ability to send out a current picture, fingerprint, and identifying information immediately upon realizing something is wrong.
Find out more about getting an eKid-ID for your child by visiting www.identakid.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Amusement Park Safety Tips
In addition to Child Identification, we here at Ident-A-Kid are also concerned with you and your child’s safety. With nicer weather approaching, many families are thinking about trips to the amusement parks! Below is some information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about safety in Amusement Parks.
Know the Rules...For Child Safety in Amusement or Theme Parks
As a parent or guardian you know such outings may also be sources of stress and concern for family members visiting an area with so many new sights and sounds. It’s easy for both adults and children to become distracted by all the excitement and attractions. Taking the time to plan your trip and including your children in that process will help make your outing in the park a more enjoyable one from start to finish. Here are a few steps your family may take to help ensure happy memories.
Before going to the park, tell your children . . .
• To enjoy their outing while paying careful attention to where they are and who they are with at all times.
• They should not be alone in the park or become isolated with anyone, even characters in costume. Also tell them not to accept any prizes, offers, or gifts from anyone until they have checked first with you. Children should also be cautioned not to engage in conversation with or offer assistance to anyone until they have checked with you first.
• To tell you if anyone approaches them or makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Tell your children if they are approached by anyone who tries to take them away to yell, “This person is not my father/mother/guardian!”
• If they become separated while in the park to go to the closest “Help/Information Center” to ask the people there to “find my parents/guardians and bring them to me here at this Center” or, in the case of older children, make the “Help/Information Center” the spot where you are able to “meet up.” Make sure your children understand they should never search for you on their own or look for you outside the park, especially in the parking lot.
• These rules also apply when they are taking part in a field trip through their school or youth group. And if you are not joining them for that trip, they need to check first with and tell the responsible adult in charge or a designated chaperone if anything makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
As a parent or guardian you should . . .
• Get information about the park prior to your trip, and review the park guidelines, particularly those regarding lost children. Discuss the information as a family, including what to do if lost or separated. Ask your children what they would do in certain situations, and practice appropriate actions and responses with your children.
• Get a map of the park prior to the visit or immediately upon arriving, identify the “Help/Information Centers” throughout, and reinforce the idea that these are the places for children to go when lost or separated in the park. Making a plan beforehand, of what to do in case of separation, should greatly speed a reunion.
• Talk to your children about who is able to help them if they become lost, need assistance, or are in trouble. Examples of these people may be park personnel with nametags or mothers with children. Children should never go off alone with anyone.
• Not allow your children to wear clothing or carry items on which their names are displayed.
• Make sure you and your children carry your child’s Ident-A-Kid card in case they become lost, become separated or need assistance. • Consider dressing your children in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so they may be more easily spotted in the park.
• Consider dressing your children in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so they may be easier to spot in the park.
• Accompany young children on rides in the park. Older children should stay in groups and take a friend with them wherever they go in the park. If you decide to let young children go on rides without you, wait with them in line, watch them enter the ride, and immediately meet them when they exit the ride.
• Always accompany younger children to restrooms in the park. Older children should not go to the restroom alone.
• Immediately report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to authorities.
• If you have a cellular telephone or wireless device, make certain your children know those numbers and these devices are activated so your children may contact you if they become lost. Based on your children’s ages and maturity levels, make certain they also know how to reach you if separated by asking adults you have identified to assist them with contacting you. Parents and guardians may wish to use two-way radios while in the park, so family members are able to stay in touch with each other.
• Immediately report your children missing when lost or separated in the park, and be prepared to give an accurate and detailed description of your children. You should carry a current photograph and be able to accurately describe the clothing your children are wearing.
• Make certain there will be be qualified supervision of your children by responsible adults if you are considering granting permission for them to take part in a field trip to an amusement or theme park.
To view the source of this article, please visit www.missingkids.com
To learn more about child safety, please visit www.childrescuenetwork.org or www.identakid.com
Know the Rules...For Child Safety in Amusement or Theme Parks
As a parent or guardian you know such outings may also be sources of stress and concern for family members visiting an area with so many new sights and sounds. It’s easy for both adults and children to become distracted by all the excitement and attractions. Taking the time to plan your trip and including your children in that process will help make your outing in the park a more enjoyable one from start to finish. Here are a few steps your family may take to help ensure happy memories.
Before going to the park, tell your children . . .
• To enjoy their outing while paying careful attention to where they are and who they are with at all times.
• They should not be alone in the park or become isolated with anyone, even characters in costume. Also tell them not to accept any prizes, offers, or gifts from anyone until they have checked first with you. Children should also be cautioned not to engage in conversation with or offer assistance to anyone until they have checked with you first.
• To tell you if anyone approaches them or makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused. Tell your children if they are approached by anyone who tries to take them away to yell, “This person is not my father/mother/guardian!”
• If they become separated while in the park to go to the closest “Help/Information Center” to ask the people there to “find my parents/guardians and bring them to me here at this Center” or, in the case of older children, make the “Help/Information Center” the spot where you are able to “meet up.” Make sure your children understand they should never search for you on their own or look for you outside the park, especially in the parking lot.
• These rules also apply when they are taking part in a field trip through their school or youth group. And if you are not joining them for that trip, they need to check first with and tell the responsible adult in charge or a designated chaperone if anything makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.
As a parent or guardian you should . . .
• Get information about the park prior to your trip, and review the park guidelines, particularly those regarding lost children. Discuss the information as a family, including what to do if lost or separated. Ask your children what they would do in certain situations, and practice appropriate actions and responses with your children.
• Get a map of the park prior to the visit or immediately upon arriving, identify the “Help/Information Centers” throughout, and reinforce the idea that these are the places for children to go when lost or separated in the park. Making a plan beforehand, of what to do in case of separation, should greatly speed a reunion.
• Talk to your children about who is able to help them if they become lost, need assistance, or are in trouble. Examples of these people may be park personnel with nametags or mothers with children. Children should never go off alone with anyone.
• Not allow your children to wear clothing or carry items on which their names are displayed.
• Make sure you and your children carry your child’s Ident-A-Kid card in case they become lost, become separated or need assistance. • Consider dressing your children in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so they may be more easily spotted in the park.
• Consider dressing your children in or asking them to wear brightly colored clothes so they may be easier to spot in the park.
• Accompany young children on rides in the park. Older children should stay in groups and take a friend with them wherever they go in the park. If you decide to let young children go on rides without you, wait with them in line, watch them enter the ride, and immediately meet them when they exit the ride.
• Always accompany younger children to restrooms in the park. Older children should not go to the restroom alone.
• Immediately report any suspicious or inappropriate behavior to authorities.
• If you have a cellular telephone or wireless device, make certain your children know those numbers and these devices are activated so your children may contact you if they become lost. Based on your children’s ages and maturity levels, make certain they also know how to reach you if separated by asking adults you have identified to assist them with contacting you. Parents and guardians may wish to use two-way radios while in the park, so family members are able to stay in touch with each other.
• Immediately report your children missing when lost or separated in the park, and be prepared to give an accurate and detailed description of your children. You should carry a current photograph and be able to accurately describe the clothing your children are wearing.
• Make certain there will be be qualified supervision of your children by responsible adults if you are considering granting permission for them to take part in a field trip to an amusement or theme park.
To view the source of this article, please visit www.missingkids.com
To learn more about child safety, please visit www.childrescuenetwork.org or www.identakid.com
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