| The U.S. Department of Justice reports:o 797,500 | | | | on your cell phone for emailing or download. |
| children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a | | | | It also needs to be noted that approximately 85% of |
| one-year period of time studied resulting in an | | | | children under the age of 16 carry no form of ID. |
| average of 2,185 children being reported missing each | | | | The risk then arises that if your child is in an accident |
| day.o 203,900 children were the victims of family | | | | away from home, say at the skateboard park, and |
| abductions.o 58,200 children were the victims of | | | | injured or rendered unconscious, they will have no |
| non-family abductions.o 115 children were the victims | | | | information on their person that First Responders can |
| of "stereotypical" kidnapping. (These crimes involve | | | | use in either treating them or in getting in contact |
| someone the child does not know or someone of | | | | with you. |
| slight acquaintance, who holds the child overnight, | | | | There are countless other examples where the need |
| transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, | | | | for your child to carry an ID card will arise. If you are |
| demands ransom, or intends to keep the child | | | | on vacation and in an auto accident and rendered |
| permanently.) | | | | unconscious, will your child have information about |
| While these statistics are startling, the risk of a child | | | | them that lists any medication or physical conditions? |
| missing or being kidnapped, as far as percentages go, | | | | The times the need for an ID card arises are |
| is really quite low. They are low, that is, until it | | | | countless. |
| becomes your child. Should the situation arise that | | | | It is recommended that your child have an ID card |
| your child is missing, there are certain pieces of | | | | and you have one as well. Additionally, the card |
| information that you need to have readily at hand to | | | | should be updated once a year (usually on the child's |
| give to emergency authorities. They include: | | | | birthday) or as medical conditions change. Information |
| *A recent photo of the child | | | | that should be on the card includes: |
| *Medical information pertaining to the child | | | | *Photo |
| *Any identifying marks | | | | *Address |
| *Physical information such as color of eyes, hair, or | | | | *Color of hair and eyes |
| do they wear glasses | | | | *Identifying marks |
| This information can be kept on a piece of paper at | | | | *Contacts with at least two phone number |
| home along with a picture, but what happens if you | | | | *Medicines and allergies |
| don't have access to that information? Say you are | | | | *Doctor's name and phone |
| at the mall when your child disappears, what do you | | | | *Dentist's name and phone |
| have to help police or security guards? | | | | The card should be made of a durable plastic. This |
| One answer is that you have a child ID card in your | | | | way there is little risk of it being ruined when the |
| wallet that contains all the pertinent information that | | | | child is playing or should the card get wet. Another |
| authorities need to find your child. The information | | | | reason for a plastic card is the sense of importance it |
| that provides critical ID information to authorities will | | | | brings to the child-they'll have a real ID card just like |
| go a long way in helping to find your child. It is also | | | | their parents driver's license. |
| recommended that you keep a picture of your child | | | | |