I worry a lot. Specifically about my kids, and most specifically when we are all in crowded places or if they aren’t with their mother or I. If any one of them were to come up missing I would be an absolute wreck. They are my life.
In my various travels online, and while listening to podcasts like Jumping Monkeys, I’ve been introduced to a few tools that can help ease the worrisome mind. I’ve no affiliation with the products mentioned below nor is this part of some referral program. I just care about our kids.
In very basic terms SafetyTat is a temporary tattoo that you would place on your child before they head out to the amusement park, beach or school field trip. If you’re like me you might even apply one before taking the kids to watch a movie though this might become expensive over time.
The folks behind SafetyTat have managed to make these little gems very attractive. They’re much more attractive than you might achieve with an Avery label and sharpie not to mention those Avery labels can’t hold up very well in water. The tattoos come in several different categories and designs and even include tats for medical alerts and special needs.
The identakey is a product that allows you to store the critical information (facts and photos) about your children, and possibly the whole family, on a secure USB flash drive.
The USB flash drive contains the database where your families information is stored. It also contains the software used to collect this information. The design of the application is such that none of the information gathered, or programs used for collection, are stored on a computer.
A username and password is required to access the application and the data is encrypted; however, I wasn’t able to determine the type of encryption being used. Once the data is collected you have the ability to produce several reports (ID Card, Missing Poster, Fingerprint Card, etc) containing just the information you do not want to be hunting around for if an actual emergency were to occur.
The identakey would also be useful in day to day life, not just in emergencies. Simply having all this information in one place may be all the incentive you need to pick one up.
The identakey is available through several online sources and a few brick and mortar. It looks like the going rate is $29.99 per key.
InstantAmber might be considered the online equivalent of identakey. With InstantAmber you gather and collect your families information online. The online model does create the opportunity to easily share the information with law enforcement. With this service there is even a password you set that is designed specifically for law enforcement. In the event of an emergency you would supply your email address and law enforcement password to an appropriate person, direct them to the InstantAmber site and they would have access to your information.
As with any online service, you need to be comfortable trusting them with your data and especially so in this case. Their site indicates the data is secure and encrypted.
This service runs $29.95/year per child.
There you have it. Three opportunities for you to be prepared when your children aren’t within arms reach.
The geek in me is considering collecting this data on my own USB drive within a TrueCrypt volume. If tech DIY is your kind of thing you might want to check out TrueCrypt yourself. Storing this same type of critical information in a spreadsheet, along with pictures, would seem to get the job done as well.
Have you taken the steps to gather your families information in one place, and if so what method did you use?
The last two items I’m not really sure about but I like the tattoo idea.
Kids will love it too, and it’s a good fun way to add a little reassurance for trips to places where the kids will most likely be running all over and are harder to monitor.
Although…a permanent marker would do the job just as easy AND would give the message to potential wrong doers that if mom and dad are too cheap to spring the 20 bucks for a tattoo, they’re no good for ransom money either.
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I love your idea of the cripted USB drive. I suppose my problem is that any such endeavor at this point would require a level of organization that I simply do not have. That’s an excuse though and I really should just make the time to do it.
Ed (zoesdad)´s last blog post..Use Me
When I was eight, another eight year old girl I knew was abducted and found murdered…her head crushed with a large rock. I am WAY paranoid about this stuff. As a matter of fact, my daughter went to a dinner at church last night with another family (I was home with the sick boy) and I warned her that it wouldn’t just be the “regular” crowd, but that there would be other people from the neighborhood who we don’t know. I am afraid that she gets in this comfort zone at school/church and I want her to be more aware…but not scared. It’s a fine line. I think stuff like this is great! Thanks for sharing.
@Xbox4NappyRash – I’m on the fence about handing my info over to someone else too. I think you’re right about the permanent marker, your logic seems sounds to me. Misspelling or reversing numbers may not hurt either.
@Ed (zoesdad) – I’m in the same boat. I know where most of what I would need is, but the question of whether or not I’d be able to keep it together well enough to collect it all is something else entirely.
@Momo Fali – That is an awful thing to have to deal with when you’re so young. I tend to walk along with you on this one, it appears. I do think this stuff is great if for no other reason than it gets us thinking about it.
@Xbox4NappyRash – Be careful about using permanent markers on your child’s skin. Most permanent markers contain solvents and solvents have been found to be bad for one’s health in some really scary ways… especially in children.
If you check with the manufacturers of markers sold in the US you’ll find most specifically recommend against using their permanent markers on a person’s skin. I know for certain that Sharpie warns against using their markers on the skin.
I checked the SafetyTat website and it looks like their product is designed and FDA approved for use on one’s skin. Bottom line is I’m not putting anything on the kids’ skin that isn’t made for that purpose. Your really have to research products these days to be safe.
I definitely wouldn’t trust an online vendor to store such deeply personal and confidential information. Not with all the reports of hacking and the like. I could see using the USB storage tool though. But I’d be sure to keep it locked in a safe or safety deposit box — not on my key ring. That’s just a little too vulnerable. I don’t trust passwords that much.
@George -
Hello George. Thanks for stopping by and for contributing to the conversation. Great info. While I’m relatively sure xbox4NappyRash’s comment was tongue in cheek it is important to point out the health concerns. All the best.
Great stuff, Chuck! I’m going to look this over with my wife tonight. BTW — the “safetytat” badge has the wrong URL on it; the other links are okay. Nit-picky, but that’s me.
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@tom -
Link corrected! Thanks for letting me know Tom and let me know how your conversation with the Mrs. goes.
I actually really love the tattoo idea..my boys would love it.and it may give me a piece of mind.. I say may because I still don’t let my boys run up ahead..or around in a store because I am so fearful of the what if’s in life..
Thanks for the info Chuck!!
And ps.. xbox info on markers was helpful too..
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