Why You Should Create a Child Safety Kit

It’s never easy to think about your child going missing, but when emergency strikes, acting quickly can be crucial. By creating a Child ID Kit, you’ll have all the necessary information on hand to help the authorities locate your missing child. A Child ID Kit includes your little one’s fingerprints and blood type, as well as physical features like height, weight and eye color.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests including the following information in your Child ID Kit:

Up-to-Date Photo Identification

Parents should maintain an up-to-date photo that shows their child’s full face in color and capture the way he or she really looks. It’s recommended that parents update the photo every six months, keep it in a safe and accessible place and keep in a digital format that can be quickly accessed during emergency situations.

Description of Your Child

The Child ID Kit should include an accurate description of your child, including:

• Name
• Nickname
• Date of Birth
• Sex
• Hair color/style
• Eye color
• Weight
• Height
• Glasses and braces
• Identifying marks such as scars or piercings

Record Your Child’s Fingerprints

If your little one goes missing, law enforcement can enter his or her fingerprints into the FBI's National Crime Information Center database. Fingerprints should be taken by a trained professional and can be recorded at little to no cost. It’s recommended that parents and guardians are the only ones who permanently store their children’s fingerprints.

Include a Copy of Their Dental Records

Dental X-rays, professional dental charting and bite impressions or tooth prints can be very useful to law enforcement officers working on missing children cases. You should update dental charts every two years until your child is 18.

Medical Records

Physical markers like scars and birthmarks can be useful in identifying a missing child. It’s important to talk to your pediatrician to ensure that your child’s medical records, such as X-rays, can be readily available in case of an emergency. Documentation of broken bones may be useful in identifying your child.

Consider the Ultimate Identifier: DNA

DNA is considered to be the “gold standard” when identifying missing persons and can often be obtained on your own. Forms of DNA can include a toothbrush, baby teeth, a hair brush or strand of hair that includes the hair follicle and dried blood from a bandage. These items should be included in an envelope, licked shut by your toddler and stored in a cool, dry place and easily accessible place.

While we hope you never have to use this Child Safety Kit, it’s important to have identifying and descriptive information readily available to protect your child in case of an emergency. Check your local community calendar for opportunities in your neighborhood to get an ID made for your child.