Kidz Card Launches Photo Identification Card.

Kidz Card LLC, a privately held company dedicated to children’s well being, has launched the first national medical emergency, identification and prepaid phone card for children.

“In light of current events in our world, Secretary of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Tom Ridge recently called for every family to have an emergency communications plan. Kidz Card helps provide that,” said Nathan H. Berkowitz, co-founder of Kidz Card.

Invented by a kid for kids, Kidz Card lets parents rest easier knowing that their children are carrying potentially life-saving medical information, emergency phone numbers and contacts, and 10 minutes of prepaid phone service provided by Sprint on an identification card that’s the size of a credit card.

“Millions of children are involved in emergency situations annually, and most of them do not own or carry any form of personal identification,” said Berkowitz, who got the idea for the card from his son Chip.

“We created Kidz Card to expedite access to potentially life- saving information and facilitate treatment and parental response time in an emergency,” said Berkowitz. “Time is the enemy in any crisis, so instant access to vital information and parental contacts is critical.”

Kidz Card differentiates itself from other child identification programs in that the card is easy to carry. “Kidz Card is available at all times,” said Berkowitz. “We’re about peace of mind and safety in a broad sense.”

High-Profile Support

Chip’s idea of a child’s ID already has caught on with some high- profile children’s advocates as well as major corporations that are partnering with Kidz Card. San Diego Chargers’ quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie is serving as a Kidz Card spokesperson; child actor Ethan Dampf, who stars on the Dick Clark production of “American Dreams,” is a Kidz Card member; and Sun Life Financial, Papa Gino’s restaurants and CodeAmber.org are some of the company’s first partners. Prepaid phone service is provided by Sprint.

“Kidz Card is something every parent should have and every kid should carry,” said Flutie, a long-standing child advocate who founded the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism to benefit children with autism in honor of his son. A portion of the sales of Kidz Card memberships benefits the non-profit organization.

Each Kidz Card membership provides three identification cards – one for the child and two for parents and/or caregivers. In addition to 10 refreshable prepaid phone minutes provided by Sprint, each Kidz Card includes identification, medical and emergency contact information that is customized by the parents, with the ability to place more comprehensive information on the parents’ card. Kidz Card memberships are recommended for children ages 6 to 16. A special membership for parents with children too young to carry the card also is available. Included with each membership is a nylon surfer wallet – a child’s first wallet.

Information parents can place on the cards includes: a current photo; name; birth date; height; weight; hair and eye color;
allergies; medications; chronic illnesses; and home, work and mobile phone numbers for primary and secondary emergency contacts. Parents are encouraged to order additional customized cards for custodial guardians, grandparents, daycare providers, baby sitters and others responsible for their children’s care.

Optimal Security Measures

All information is held in the strictest confidence and will not be sold, shared or compromised. Kidz Card relies on state-of- the-art technology with optimal security measures, including SSL encryption technology, provided by Verisign, for transmission of all sensitive information. In addition, the company is a licensee of the TRUSTe Children’s Privacy Program, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote fair information practices on the Internet. The TRUSTe program has been approved by the Federal Trade Commission as an authorized safe harbor under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule.

Other benefits to a Kidz Card membership include a newsletter, educational and safety resources, and an online community at http://www.kidzcard.com. The web site features complete membership and registration information, links to other useful kids sites, and a referral program in which current members who refer friends, schoolmates and others to the program earn bonus points redeemable for prizes available through Amazon.com.

In addition, kids soon will be able to use the card to access retail discounts, special events posted on the web site, concerts and additional prizes. Kidz Card plans to forge additional alliances with strategic partners to continue enhancing the membership experience.