By HEATHER RUPPE
Parents of Colleton County children are encouraged to participate in a new Child ID program that could help local authorities find their child faster in an unforeseen emergency.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office is using Child ID Kits, where the local agency uses a child's fingerprints to help find them in case of an emergency.
These kits are free of charge.
When asked why these kits are so important for Colleton parents to take advantage of, Sheriff Buddy Hill said the national statistics speak for themselves: once every 40 seconds, a child goes missing in the United States. This means about 840,000 children are reported missing each year in the U.S.
"Completing a child safety kit is a preventative measure to better help law enforcement locate a child if they are ever abducted," he said. "This free kit records a child's height, weight, blood type, eye color, fingerprints, DNA, and an up-to-date photo.
"These kits are kept at home with the parent or guardian and, if ever needed, gives authorities essential information to assist in locating a missing child. Due to the increasing threat of our children becoming victims, it presents the critical need for this program."
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office has an unlimited number of kits, meaning there is no cap on the number of parents who can participate in this program.
To get this program underway, the local sheriff's office partnered with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children.
To participate, Colleton parents can contact the sheriff's office during regular business office hours at 843-549-2211.
The ID kits will also be available at community events hosted by the sheriff's office.
According to Shalane Lowes, spokesman for the sheriff's office, there have been no children reported missing in Colleton County in 2022.
