FOREST PARK SOUTHEAST

The following post is from: Safety & Security

Child Safety & Security Classes

Is your child starting to be old enough to be left at home alone or with a sibling? Are they using the internet alone? The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children offers free online training for kids aged 5-17 on home alone safety, internet identity safety, and cyberbullying. Their website is www.netsmartz.org and they have materials for both kids and parents.

DIY Child ID Kit

Although it is not something you would ever want to have to use, a child ID kit is essential if you ever need law enforcement’s help finding your child. It is also a great tool to have when traveling far distances or if you live in a natural disaster area. Here’s what you need to make one at home:

• Photo of the child’s face, in color, that has been taken in the last 6 months
  • The photo should be updated regularly, about twice a year
  • You should keep a physical copy on hand as well as a digit copy on a phone or computer that you can easily access
• Create a description of your child and include their name, nickname, birthday, gender, hair color & style, eye color, weight, height, and any identifying qualities. Identifying qualities can include if they wear glasses, have braces, piercings, and birthmarks.
• A copy of your child’s fingerprints
  • Grab some fingerprint ink from an office supply store
  • Have your child thoroughly wash their hands and fingertips
  • Roll their finger across the ink pad and then roll their finger across plain cardstock or paper, using firm and even pressure
  • The print should show lines and swirls clearly. If there are smudges, try again
  • Keep these prints somewhere secure. Do not give to anyone (including law enforcement) unless it is an emergency
• A sample of DNA
  • There are services that you can use to collect and store your child’s DNA in case of an emergency, or you can do one of the following:
    • Have your child use a new toothbrush without toothpaste. Do not rinse it off. Let it air dry and then store it in a brown envelope. Use a self-sealing envelope or have your child lick to seal the envelope, and then store it in a cool, dry location
    • Follow the above instructions but instead have your child exclusively use a new hairbrush for a month. Store it with the hair in the brush
    • Collect a used bandage with a blood sample on it from your child and store it in a brown envelope in a cool, dry place
  • Dental Impressions
    • You can use a clean piece of Styrofoam to collect bite marks from your child. Have them bit down firmly on Styrofoam, so that you can clearly see their tooth impressions. Store somewhere safe, and update every two years until they are 18
  • Medical Reports
    • Keep copies of x-rays, dental records, and documentations of broken bones somewhere safe and accessible

If you can only do a couple of these things, the photograph, description, and DNA sample are the most important things to keep.