If you haven’t done so already, get a FREE My Child ID card; click here to download yours today: http://buymychildid.com/download-free-my-child-id-card-kit/

If you’re looking for something to keep information on your kids, grandkids or the entire family, learn more about My Child ID software, available in a download version or on a USB keychain so you can take it anywhere.

In honor of National Grandparents Day, enter promo code: GRAND when ordering the USB drive and receive free shipping anywhere in the continental U.S.

See all our videos at www.YouTube.com/AmberAlertDOTcom

Be Alert!  Be Prepared!
The AmberAlert.com Team

If you are looking for something a bit more portable and easy to maintain, update and keep current, take a look at our digital My Child ID™ Kits. The proceeds from the sale of the My Child ID™ goes to help support your state AMBER Program.

…A child goes missing in the United States every 40 seconds.

Today, May 25th,  is National Missing Children’s Day. For 27 years, each administration has honored this annual reminder to the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families and make child protection a national priority.

Remembering children today, AmberAlert.com continues their efforts to help keep children and families safe through safeguarding, response and prevention. To ensure the safety of children and families, they developed the most advanced information dissemination portal to issue AMBER? Alerts–helping to potentially reduce response times from hours to minutes when it matters most.

Perhaps one of the most notorious missing children cases, 6-year-old Adam Walsh disappeared from a Florida shopping mall in 1981. His parents, John and Revé Walsh, immediately turned to law-enforcement agencies to help find their son. To their disappointment, there was no coordinated effort among law enforcement to search for Adam on a state or national level, and no organization to help them in their desperation.

An article from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sums up the situation saying, “The tragedies of these children and others exposed a fundamental flaw. There was no coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement; no national response system in place; and no central resource to help searching families. When it came to handling missing-children cases, the United States was a nation of 50 states often acting like 50 separate countries.”

In 1979, 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school. His story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer, was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the nation and around the world, causing Etan became the poster-child for the new movement.

Because of Adam, Etan and numerous other children, President Ronald Regan proclaimed May 25 National Missing Children?s Day in 1983.

National Missing Children?s Day is a reminder to all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency. For this end, AmberAlert.com went a step further to create My Child ID and corresponding software for parents to use as a proactive tool to securely store, encrypt, and organize vital child medical and identification data in cases of medical emergencies and missing children cases.

You can help by looking at photographs of missing children and reporting any information to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s toll-free Hotline: 1-800-THE-LOST.

According to Grandparents.com:

• There are more than 70 million grandparents in the United States.
• 60% of grandparents live close to their grandchildren.
• 75% of grandparents are online.

Many grandparents provide child care for their grandchildren, whether they are occasional babysitters or provide regular care for working parents. In fact, a recent study showed 72% take care of their grandchildren on a regular basis. This means it?s even more important for grandparents to be up-to-speed with the grandkids? medical and identification data so they can provide law enforcement and medical responders with the most recent, up-to-date information quickly in the event of an emergency.

Grandparents don’t always have the luxury of knowing the “ins” and “outs” about their grandkids’ medical and identification history. Unfortunately, this puts them at a disadvantage because so many of them spend a significant amount of time care giving and need to act fast when faced with an emergency.

My Child ID from AmberAlert.com is the first comprehensive device that stores and encrypts vital child identification data to help in missing person cases and medical emergencies, helping grandparents stay proactive when it comes to safeguarding their grandchildren.

In the form of a key chain, or available as a simple download to the computer, My Child ID stores and organizes your grandchildren?s vital information so you and emergency responders can have key info instantly. Unlike a typical USB device or computer document, My Child ID is secured using SHA 1 encryption, designed by the National Security Agency (NSA). It also features Private Alerting and Geo-Analytics to allow families to develop a list of trusted contacts that can be texted or emailed at a moment?s notice.

Information stored includes:

• Vital stats (Height, weight, eye and hair color, etc.)
• Previous medical conditions
• Family history
• Blood types (Cross matches for entire family)
• Allergies / medications
• Pharmacy information
• Important contacts and more

Now grandparents can have peace of mind when they spend time with their grandchildren, prepared for any emergency with the help of AmberAlert.com!

Today we observe AMBER Alert Awareness Day to bring public awareness to the AMBER Alert program, and to increase public participation in safely recovering missing children.

This year, Mark Rollins helped commemorate the day in a great article on Coolest-Gadgets.com, “Commemorate AMBER Alert Day with My Child ID.”

What does My Child ID have to do with AMBER Alert Awareness Day?

AmberAlert.com is engaged in the continual development and improvement of the most innovative technology for safeguarding children and families. For this reason, they created My Child ID to give parents peace of mind, allowing them to safely secure and organize their child’s vital identification data–and have it ready for emergency responders at a moment’s notice.

Mark agrees saying, “As a parent, the idea of one of my children disappearing scares the living daylights out of me. However, there is a product out that can give, as it says, ?Peace of Mind.”

The My Child ID device is in the form of a key chain, and allows family members to create several profiles that take up 128 MB. Information stored includes: digital photos, vital stats (height, weight, eye and hair color, etc.), previous medical conditions, family history, blood types (cross matches for entire family), allergies, medications, pharmacy information, emergency contacts and more.

“So in a situation where a missing child is found with this My Child ID, it will speed up the process of contacting the family taking taking care of any special medical needs.”

As of January 7, 2010, the AMBER Alert Program was directly responsible for the safe recovery of 495 children!

Be sure to check out Mark Rollins’  full Coolest-Gadgets article, ?Commemorate AMBER Alert Day with My Child ID.?

• Jimmy had his tonsils out at age 3, December 12, 2006.
• Sarah no longer weighs 53 pounds, she grew 3 inches and weighs 67 pounds.
• Thomas has a small scar on his left cheek.

How about having it organized, secured, updated…and having it available with the click of a mouse?

You might be familiar with our My Child ID device, a digital child identification device that stores critical data to help in instances of a missing child, critical injury or abduction cases. In emergency situations, a parent?s ability to recall basic facts about their child can be compromised by overwhelming stress. For this reason, we created the My Child ID device for parents…

…AND now have a NEW way for parents to securely store and access vital information with our downloadable My Child ID software.

An alternative to scattered photos and documents, the My Child ID software is a convenient and secure way for parents to store, organize and access vital child identification data at home – perfect for the Dad who doesn’t want to carry around the key chain device.

Not only does the software give parents peace of mind by securely storing and securing vital information, it also enables parents to issue immediate text messages and/or e-mails to their entire network of trusted contacts stored within the software in the event of an emergency.

Our CEO, Harlan Lyons, weighs in saying:

“Families have a new portal for storing their children?s information while still receiving the same features and benefits of our My Child ID portable device…the new downloadable version of our software is a safe, and more secure, option for immediate access of information in the event of an emergency ? including photos, medical history and emergency contact information.?

Previously only available in the form of the My Child ID portable key chain, the software is now offered as a simple download. Unlike typical software programs or simply storing vital info on a spreadsheet, the downloadable software is password protected and secured using SHA 1 encryption, designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) for full protection of the sensitive data.

The software includes the same features as the My Child ID device, including:

• Recent digital photos ? viewed on a LCD digital photo display
• Vital statistics ? height, weight, eye and hair color, blood type, etc.
• Emergency contact information
• Medical information ? medication, allergies, physicians, pharmacies, etc.
• Contact information for family, friends, teachers, babysitters, etc. (photos, car make, model and license)
• Private Alerting
• Geo-Analytics

Get organized. Download the My Child ID software or check out the portable My Child ID device…and be prepared for any emergency situation!

And now we?ve added a section to our website where we introduce ourselves to you on a more personal level. We invite you to take a look by meeting the AmberAlert.com corporate team.

“We are more than industry professionals. We are parents, aunts, uncles and soon-to-be grandparents. We are dedicated to protecting your family like we protect our own.”

Our team at AmberAlert.com is dedicated to helping parents and law enforcement safeguard children. With our My Child ID technology and corresponding, innovative software, we are able to do just that?through safeguarding, response and prevention.

While our goal is to help reduce emergency response time from hours to minutes through technology, our reasoning is more personal. Our AmberAlert.com corporate team?including Harlan, Elsa and Rollie?wants you to know why we believe so strongly in our company, and what our company can do for our families.

Get a little insight into why and how AmberAlert.com is changing the way parents, emergency responders, and law enforcement help keep children and families safe?and meet the team behind it all.

• Dad forgetting to pack a suitcase and not realizing it until you’ve arrived
• Mom getting soaked on a water ride at the amusement park
• The entire family getting lost en route to the campground
• Brother trying to eat 15 pancakes in one sitting at the hotel complimentary breakfast

While we always have great times on family excursions, as parents we also have to ensure we are keeping our families and kids safe. It might seem like common sense–keep an eye on the kids, tell them not to talk to strangers, lock doors–but there are a lot of things we could be doing that might not even be on our radar!

We’ve compiled a list of 5 Family Travel Safety Tips for you and your family to keep in mind this summer as you travel:

1. Never Leave. Never leave the kids alone in the car. It might seem easier to run in to the convenience store to pay for gas or grab a coffee and leave the kiddos strapped in, but temperatures inside a car can reach deadly levels in minutes, causing heat stroke. You’re also giving anyone the opportunity to break into the car, which can happen in minutes.

2. Notify. You might mention in passing to family and friends about your upcoming vacation, but make a point to inform your relatives, friends, and close neighbors where you will be. In the event of an emergency, more people will be able to get a hold of you to help in any emergency situation.

3. Have Information. It’s important to have all your medical information on hand in case of an emergency. Make sure you have recent photos of family members, contact information, and vital identification data. My Child ID from AmberAlert.com makes it easy–the device stores and encrypts all vital identification and medical data, including pictures, for the entire family.

4. On the Road. You have a checklist for pool toys, clothes, and diaper bags, but make sure you also have emergency items when traveling by car. Pack thermal blankets, bottled water, and high protein energy snacks to help keep you warm, while also putting together a well-stocked road safety kit that includes first aid supplies in case of an emergency.

5. Hotel Living. Staying in a hotel can be a fun experience for kids, but parents still have to make sure it’s a safe environment. Be sure to baby- and toddler-proof the room, and bring your comforts of home, such as your Superyard XT Safety Gate or Peapod Baby Travel Bed.

Summer vacations are a great time for families to spend time together, creating memories–but make sure your safety items, precautions, and tips make the packing list!

Stay tuned for more from AmberAlert.com and My Child ID’s Safety Tips series!

Because AmberAlert.com exists to help keep children and families safe through safeguarding, response, and prevention — we believe being an advocate for children and observing National Child Abuse Prevention Month is an important step we should all take.

Why do we observe this day?

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, ?Increasing public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children led to the passage of the first Federal child protection legislation, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), in 1974.?

In 1983, April was proclaimed the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, child abuse and neglect awareness activities have been promoted across the country during April of each year.

?National Child Abuse Prevention Month? Today

In 2004, there was emerging consensus among national child abuse prevention organizations and related Federal agencies that building public will for child abuse prevention required engaging the public in efforts to strengthen and support families and enhance parenting skills. Building on this national momentum, focus shifted to incorporate a family strengthening message promoting parenting and community support.

Today, the Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is an opportunity for communities across the country to keep children safe, provide the support families need to stay together, and raise children and youth to be happy, secure, and stable adults.

10 things you can do for Child Abuse Prevention Month

1. Volunteer your time. Get involved with other parents in your community, and help vulnerable children and their families by start a playgroup, participating in afterschool activities, parent education classes, or mentoring programs.
2. Discipline your children thoughtfully. Never discipline your child when you are upset, but rather give yourself time to calm down. Both words and actions can inflict deep, lasting wounds, so be sure to use your actions to show children and other adults that conflicts can be settled without hitting or yelling.
3. Support prevention programs. Too often, intervention occurs only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed in programs that have been proven to stop the abuse before it occurs–such as family counseling and home visits by nurses who provide assistance for newborns and their parents.
4. Know what child abuse is, and what the signs are. Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment, but so does neglect, and emotional abuse. Depression, fear of a certain adult, difficulty trusting others or making friends, sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor hygiene, secrecy, and hostility are often signs of family problems and may indicate a child is being neglected or physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
5. Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make a report to your state’s child protective services department or local police.
6. Invest in kids. Encourage leaders in the community to be supportive of children and families ? Ask employers to provide family-friendly work environments, or ask your local and national lawmakers to support legislation to better protect our children and to improve their lives.
7. Write, visit, fax, phone, or e-mail your elected officials. Request that your governor, state legislators, county commissioners, and mayor proclaim the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and fly the Children’s Memorial Flag.
8. Participate in ceremonies to memorialize children. Read the names of children lost to violence in your state, hold a candlelight vigil, or host an event at your state capital to remember those children who were lost to violence.
9. Raise public awareness. Distribute information about Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Children’s Memorial Flag. Issue photographs, public service announcements, and compelling stories to the community.
10. Support Initiatives. CWLA and Alameda County, California, are submitting a proposal for the Children’s Memorial Flag to be commemorated on a U.S. postal stamp. Click to learn more.

Want to learn more? Read the full list created by the Child Welfare League of America.

April is a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. We can all do our part by encouraging individuals and communities to support children and families, educating ourselves and our families, and finding ways to engage communities to support our children.

Have a great time finding ways to get involved with your children and community for a great cause!