The number one problem in quickly finding missing children when the worst happens, is obtaining the necessary information from the understandably frantic parents. So 1200 WOAI reports the nationally recognized group Operation Kidsafe will be in San Antonio tomorrow and Saturday, providing parents with a card that includes the critical information police and the AMBER Alert people need in an emergency.
"The safety document has the child's ten digital fingerprints and a photo," Operation Kidsafe founder Mark Bott told 1200 WOAI news.
He says the parents can then fill in other critical information, like hair color, height and weight, and place the document in a place where they can grab it and give it to police in case of emergency.
"This gives you a leg up, some information for the police authorities to quickly help you find your child."
Operation Kidsafe will be providing this safety document at North Park Lexus at the Dominion, which is located on I-10 West.
He says the program is completely free to families, and he stresses that Operation Kidsafe will not ask for any identifying personal information. He says the card will contain the digital fingerprints and photo, and the parents will fill in the rest. Since Operation Kidsafe does not even ask for personal information, there is no danger that the information will be stolen from any database.
The document will also include updated safety tips to keep children safe.
He says too often, kids are given outdated safety information, dating back to the eighties when the catch phrases were 'stranger danger' and 'don't look for the puppy,' a reference to an urban legend that child predators were luring children by asking them to help them look for a lost puppy.
"80% of the crimes that are committed against children are committed by people they know, or people the child perceives are endorsed by the parents."