May 23, 2008 has been designated "National Missing Children's Day", and is set aside as a day to remember the 800,000 children who are reported missing each year, and the ongoing hardships their families endure every day they remain missing.
The numbers are staggering, and the demographics spread across the racial spectrum. Young and old, infant and teen, boy and girl, rich and poor, no one is immune. Some of these children are runaways, others are the victim of predators, and still others are the victim of other criminal intent.
What we do know is the first 48 hours are critical in the search process, and the first 4-5 hours are the most crucial in obtaining a positive outcome in most situations. Empowering law enforcement and emergency services personnel to have the information they need to quickly mount an efficient search for a missing child can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one.
It can take up to 2-3 hours for law enforcement to obtain the information needed to mount an efficient search, and during this time the abductor and missing child could move miles from home. Anything that can be done to expedite the process helps law enforcement do its job more efficiently.
This is why the National Security Alliance Kid-Safe Network created the Rapid Search Network (RSN). RSN is a highly secure, password protected, web-based database that enables a family to create and store a digital profile of their children that can be immediately accessed by law enforcement and emergency services personnel in the event a child becomes missing.
The Rapid Search Network is a digital profile consisting of 4 photographs (front face, side face, front full body, side full body), height, weight, hair color, eye color, distinguishing marks, medical issues and the child's first name. Parents create a user name and password to secure the profile, and this information is uploaded to the secure server.
Once the profile is created, the user can update the profile on a regular basis using the password protected site. As a security measure, the child's first name, address, phone, or contact information is NOT provided on the profile.
Should a child go missing, the parents notify 9-1-1 the child is registered in the Rapid Search Network and provide the operator with the user name and password. Law enforcement can then access the site, pull the missing child's profile, print a poster (with additional details surrounding the event) and distribute this information via email or fax in a matter of minutes.
This information can also be provided to local media to instantly gain needed community support and increase the number of "eyes" looking for the missing child.
The National Security Alliance has teams in different parts of the country that provide onsite enrollment services at civic, community, church, business or recreational events. The organization also provides an Online Enrollment Kit that includes a single use CD (to enroll one child), fingerprint card, DNA collection kit, and an ID booklet for medical, dental, and personal contact information. The Kit also includes an educational DVD providing almost 1 hour of information on predatory behaviors, tactics, and defensive countermeasures.
The NSA has also created the Personal Profile Unit (PPU) to store the same information maintained in the RSN secure database. The PPU is a software-embedded, password protected device that can plug into any USB computer port and provide access to the database contents. This is an attractive tool to carry, especially when traveling with children.
Imagine you are leaving for Disney World with your 3 children. Before you leave, you use your digital camera to take pictures of the children and upload them into your PPU. About 3 hours into your day, one of your children wanders off and is lost in the park. You can take the PPU to Park Security and they can immediately access a photo of your child (as they looked before you left for the park) and share this information throughout the park facility.
No one wants to experience the horror of a missing child, but it happens far too often in our nation. Having the resources to quickly and efficiently mount a search can make the difference between a desire outcome and one that is not so desirable.
Headquartered in Detroit MI, the National Security Alliance is the world's leading danger awareness certification organization for kid-safe and women safe issues. It is supported through private and corporate contributions.
NSA Kid-Safe experts are available to speak to your organization, school, church, civic or community group on a variety of safety topics, and offers a broad array of educational resources to help families raise "kid-safe" kids.
By: John L. Terry, III - Regional Director, Kid-Safe Network / Women-Safe Network