It's a parent's worst nightmare to turn around and find their child has suddenly vanished.
Child Safety Services Canada is giving Prince George parents the opportunity to register their children in a secure database, which can be used as an aid for police should this nightmare become a reality.
Until June 5, the organization has a booth set up at Pine Centre Mall to inform parents and register children.
Child Safety Services Canada manager, Michael Abel said their database is 100 per cent anonymous and is never accessed unless a missing child is reported to their 24-hour emergency line.
"It's secured and when [parents] call in, they get an emergency team and immediately," said Abel. "The parents are told to call the police, we aren't a replacement for the police by any means, just an aid to them."
According to Child Safety Services agent, Courtney Culham more than 150 parents have already registered their children in Prince George alone.
"They are a lot of young mothers in this city, so we are noticing them signing up for sure," said Culham.
Some registrants have concerns about potential parental abduction whereas others simply want one more means of ensuring their child's safety.
Only the two founders of the centre have complete access to the database.
When registering their children, parents are encouraged to record as much information as possible, including scars, birthmarks, any allergies or medical conditions. The more information that goes into the database, the more information the centre can offer to law enforcement.
In exchange for the information, parents are given a tracking number that is used to access their child's account if necessary.
The cost of registering is $72 per year. Parents are provided with safety labels for each child to use on backpacks or helmets with the tracking number.
The will also receive key tags so that they always have the emergency contact number handy.
Statistics show that the best chances of locating a lost child is within the first three hours and after that time period has expired, the chances are reduced exponentially.
In 2009, 50,492 children in Canada went missing, according to the Missing Children Society of Canada.
For more information, go to www.childsafetyservices.ca.
