It’s a sad idea that our children have to be fingerprinted and we need to make notes about the scars or moles on their bodies. But, with the much-publicized rash of child abductions the nation has been experiencing lately, it seems that it’s something we really ought to do, just in case the unthinkable happens.

The Valencia County Sheriff’s Department is asking for businesses and individuals to help make it easier for law enforcement to find children who are abducted or lost.

It’s asking for help in paying for the distribution of 1,500 child identification kits to parents of elementary-school-age children in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Most children’s fingerprints aren’t on file because they haven’t served in the military, taken government jobs or been arrested for criminal activity. If the absolute worst happens, police may need fingerprints to identify youngsters.

The kits include inkless fingerprinting tools, places for recording a child’s physical description and identifying marks, a space for a photograph and a section for recording doctors’ telephone numbers.

The program was initiated by the National Child Identification Program, which found that fewer than 2 percent of parents had a record of their children’s fingerprints.

Cost is $150 for 100 kits.

If you can help, please call Lt. Gary Hall at 866-2404. We could save lives.

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The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.