Prevention
Checklist
 TIPS
TO KEEP KIDS SAFE
There are step that you can take now to be prepared in case your child
might someday be missing. Collecting the data described below will help
law enforcement search for and identify your child when he or she is
recovered:
KEEP
A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR CHILD.
This
description must include color of hair, color of eyes, height, weight,
and date of birth. In addition the descriptions should include identifiers
such as eyeglasses or contact lenses, braces on teeth, pierced ears,
and other unique physical attributes. The complete description must
be written down.
TAKE
COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUR CHILD EVERY SIX MONTHS.
 Photographs
should be of high quality and in sharp focus so that your child is easily
recognizable. Head and shoulder portraits from different angles, such
as those taken by school photographers, are preferable, but make certain
you have a photograph that most resembles your child. Candid photographs
may be more representative of how your child looks than a posed shot.
HAVE
YOUR DENTIST PREPARE DENTAL CHARTS AND PRINTS FOR YOUR CHILD.
Be sure the dental
chart is updated each time an examination or dental work is performed
and dental prints are taken once every two years until your child is
18 years old. Make sure your dentist maintains accurate up-to-date dental
charts and X-rays for your child as a routine part of his or her normal
office procedure. If you move, you should get a copy from your former
dentist to keep yourself until a new dentist is found. Make certain
that the information is easily accessible should you need it quickly.
Also consider taking a bite impression of your child's teeth. Take a
two-inch square of flat material like Styrofoam® and have your child
bite partially through it. The bite should be strong enough to leave
an impression of the upper and lower teeth. A new bite sample should
be made each time your child loses or grows a tooth.
KNOW
WHERE YOUR CHILD'S MEDICAL RECORDS ARE LOCATED.
 Medical
records, particularly X-rays,can be invaluable in helping to identify
a recovered child. It is important to have all permanent scars, birthmarks,
blemishes, and broken bones recorded. You should find out from your
child's doctor where such records are located and how you can obtain
them if the need arises.
ARRANGE
WITH YOUR LOCAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO HAVE YOUR CHILD FINGERPRINTED.
In order for fingerprints
to be useful in identifying a person, they must be properly taken. Your
law-enforcement agency has trained personnel to help ensure that the
fingerprints taken are useful. They will give you the fingerprint card
and not keep a record of the prints.
CONSIDER
HAVING A DNA SAMPLE TAKEN FROM YOUR CHILD.
| |
ORAL
SWAB COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS.
Items
Required:
Rubber Gloves, 2 Cotton Swabs, and Envelope.
Take
the first swab and swab the area between where lower right gumline
and cheek meet by twirling cotton-tipped swab and rubbing back
and forth. Do this for 30 seconds.
Allow
swab to air dry at least 45 minutes.
Repeat
process with second swab.
Seal
both swabs in envelope; date, initial the seal.
Store
envelope in a secure, cool, dark, and dry location, such as a
safety deposit box.
|
|
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic
acid, is rapidly becoming the "gold standard" for identifications.
There are many DNA collection kits available, but it is simple for you
to collect a sample. For example, an old toothbrush that has been used
exclusively by your child is rich with his or her DNA. Allow the toothbrush
to air dry and place it in a brown envelope, have your child lick the
envelope shut, and label it.
If using a buccal-swab
sample from the inside of your child's mouth it is important to follow
the instructions to allow for the swab to dry prior
to storage.
FAMILY
PROJECT
Make an identification
box for each family member. Each family member should use a separate
shoebox. In each shoebox place one family member's fingerprints, extra
dental X-rays and prints as obtained from the dentist, a recent picture,
and the DNA sample in separate brown envelopes. Store the box at room
temperature in a dry place away from heat. The DNA sample should be
good for up to six or seven years.
|
