For the last few years the Oxford Fire Fighters Union has distributed ID kits to every kindergartener at Oxford’s elementary schools.
The tradition continued Monday as Kevin Snell and Lt. BJ Frantz passed out 327 kits to just as many kindergarteners at Clear Lake, Daniel Axford, Lakeville, and Leonard elementary schools.
The kits allow parents to fingerprint their children, collect DNA samples, and record basic descriptive information such as eye and hair color, height and weight. The completed kit can provide law enforcement vital information to locate a child if they ever go missing.
The fingerprinting process takes approximately five minutes and can be done at home. The kits include instructions, an inkless fingerprinting kit, a DNA collection swab and a wallet card, all enclosed in an easy to store letter-sized envelope.
The kits come from the National Child Identification Program. It is the only in-home identification kit approved by the FBI.
Each kit cost a little over $2, plus shipping. The Fire Fighters Union is always open to donations for the following year, or for special cases when a new child moves in. Donations can be dropped off at Oxford Fire Station #1 at 96 N. Washington St.
For more information about the child ID kits, visit childidprogram.com