May 18, 2013
The FBI says a child disappears every 40 seconds in the United States. So to help in missing children cases, it's offering a new iPhone app for parents. It's designed to quickly get out your child's information so a search can begin right away. The free child ID app has several features that can help you in the event that your child is missing. The main feature of the app allows you to import your child's updated photograph and other important information stored locally on your phone.
It's easy to use. Just update your child's photograph and updated their descriptions that would include the child's gender, age, height, weight, and other critical information. You can quickly email all the information straight to the FBI and other law enforcement.
Local parent Jess O'Keefe said, "I think it's a good idea in theory, i mean we can use technology today to use it for really good things like this."
The app also provides important information on how to keep your kids safe as well as advice for what do if your child disappears. The FBI says this is a way to help out parents in an ever growing technological world.
"I think it would be a really good idea, just in case these kids do go missing," said Tim Siemer.
The FBI is partnering once again with the American Football Coaches Association to produce a PSA about the app during football games this season. The parents i talked today said they would get the free app for keeping tracking of their children's information.
"I would, i mean it's not like you're implanting your kid with a monitoring device or something but this seems like a safer way to do it," explained O'Keefe.
The FBI says they plan to expand the app to other mobile electronic devices like android in the coming months.
