FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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How it works
The basic concept behind Lost-Kidz is simple. The moment that you realise that your child is missing, you use the App to issue an alert to people in the vicinity asking them to look out for your child. The alert contains a current photo, location and time that your child went missing, along with any details which you have chosen to add to the alert such as a description of clothing. With the help of the App, in the vast majority of cases you will be re-united with your child in a short space of time, but as time passes, the App issues further alerts to an increasingly wider area.
When someone finds your child, or has information that they wish to pass on to assist the search, they can make immediate contact with the issuer of the alert using the contact button on the App.
When you have been re-united with your child, the App delivers a message to others in the area to confirm that the child has been returned safely
Our aim is to re-unite you with your child in the shortest possible time; reducing stress and anxiety and minimising the risk of accidental or intentional harm to your child.
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Downloading the App
The App can be downloaded from the i-phone App Store and will soon be available as an Android app for other smart phones.
Add details of each child
When you have downloaded the App, the intuitive menu will show you how to add details of your child/children to the system. This will include a current photo and any other relevant information (age/height/distinguishing features etc).
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Why do I need to register, and is it safe?
Registering helps to build confidence in the community, parents want to know who they are sending their child's details to! There's no room for strangers when dealing with our children.
We ask for an email address to use as your account name, a password to secure your account, your name and your mobile number. Your name and mobile number will be incorporated in any messages you send back to parents who have lost a child.
As the Lost Kidz community is all about trust we take our responsibilities incredibly seriously. We are registered with the relevant Data Protection agencies and have a full and public Privacy Policy that we adhere to.
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Sending an Alert
You can practice sending an alert using the test function. It is a simple process.
Open the App
Click on the relevant child
Click on Send an Alert
Add any relevant additional details (eg wearing a red coat)
Press send
You will have issued an alert to all users within the immediate vicinity.
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Testing
You can see how the App works by using the Test function, which is also a great way to show family and friends as we build the Lost-Kidz community. If you send an alert using the test facility, the alert is sent back to your phone to illustrate what other users in the area would receive if a real alert had been issued.
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What happens next?
When someone sees your child, or has information that may help in tracking your child down (eg ‘we saw him 5 minutes ago in the car park), they will contact you directly by phone or text.
When you have been re-united with your child, you will be asked to confirm that your child has been found and a message will then be despatched to everyone in the vicinity confirming that the search is over.
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What to do if you receive an alert
If you receive an alert, we would like to ask you to be extra vigilant. At its best, this may include actively looking around you, particularly in high risk areas such as busy roads or near open water – and checking your swimming pool if a child has been lost in your neighbourhood.
If you see the child, you can immediately contact the issuer of the Alert using the contact details on the App and arrange how to re-unite the child with the parent.
If you have information which may help to track the child, or have seen something suspicious, then you can also text the issuer of the alert so that there is a permanent record of the information should this be needed as the search intensifies.
If you see someone with the child, please contact the issuer of the Alert immediately. It may be the parent and they have yet to hit the ‘Found’ button, but your call could be critical.
Do not hand the child over to anyone unless you are in direct contact with the issuer of the alert.
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The ‘Predator Question’
The authorities and child welfare organisations all agree that the App will act as a significant deterrant if a predator happens to be in the area when your child goes missing. There are four critical issues in a predator situation:
1. The predator is in the area when the child is separated from its parents
2. The predator sees the child alone
3. The predator can take the child unchallenged
4. The predator can escape unseen
The App doesn’t change the first two factors, but it significantly increases the likelihood that the child has already been noticed, that any approach will be witnessed, that any attempt to abduct will be challenged and attempts to carry the child away will be witnessed or stopped.
In addition, the parent can include their own photo in the alert, so aiding identification.
If your child goes missing without the App, a predator can get away with it if they see your child first. With the App, they are entering an area which is ‘white hot’ with the risk of being seen, challenged, apprehended or caught. And don't forget the alert only goes to those people actually in your area.
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Helping to build the Lost-Kidz community
The success of the App depends upon numbers. That is why we have enlisted some of the best known child welfare organisations in the world to help to spread the word.
We have made the App free to download for people who are happy to step forward as good citizens and offer help when a child goes missing
We have also made the App as cost effective as possible for parents, grandparents and carers - in every country around the world, you will be able to register your children for less than the cost of a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
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What can you do to help?
Please make sure that you tell all of your friends and family about the App and encourage them to download it.
Go to the LostKidzApp page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LostKidzApp) and click ‘like’
Follow us on Twitter @LostKidzApp
Share the youtube animation with friends
..and maybe even speak to your local media about running a campaign to make your village, town or city a safer place for children
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How often does Lost Kidz update location?
In order to preserve battery life, Lost-Kidz updates your location only when your location changes significantly. Typically, this is whenever you change WiFi networks or cell towers. When Lost-Kids detects a significant location change, the GPS unit briefly activates to get more accurate location coordinates.
How will Lost-Kidz affect battery life? In general, you shouldn't notice much change in battery life. If you frequently change location, you could see a 10 - 15% reduction in battery life.
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Why isn't my location updating?
Make sure the Lost-Kidz app is running. If you have recently powered off your phone, you'll need to restart Lost-Kidz. You should only need to restart Lost-Kidz after a complete phone shutdown.
Verify that your phone is not in "Airplane Mode".
Make sure in "Settings > General > Location Settings" that Location Services are marked "On" and Lost-Kidz is also marked as "On".
In addition, the location only updates when your phone changes location.
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How can I ensure I get the most accurate location results?
Turning WiFi "On" often leads to improved accuracy and more frequent updates -
International roaming
When travelling abroad with the Lost-Kidz application, there are essentially two options.
1 - If you are comfortable with international roaming charges and you are aware of the applicable pricing structure, you do not need to make any changes.
2 - If you are unaware of your provider's international roaming charges or you do not wish to have additional data/roaming costs, then you need to disable 3G data in the settings menu on your iPhone. Please ensure that your WiFi is still enabled.
If you have chosen to disable 3G data on your phone, you should still leave the Lost-Kidz application running; as the application will still be able to function when a valid wireless connection is present.
If you need to send out an alert for your child, you need to ensure that you have a valid Wi-Fi or 3G data connection.
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Account types
The free App (no subscription required)
The free Lost-Kidz App will hopefully remain unused on your device for many years. There is nothing to see and nothing to do. In fact, it is probably the most boring App you will ever download.
But one day, if someone near to you loses a child, the App will spring into life and you will receive an alert - and you may just be the person who finds the child and re-unites them with their parent. To that parent you will be a hero.
So download the App. You may save a child's life.
The App (with subscription)
The subscription version of the App unlocks additional functionality, by allowing you to add your children's profile (unlimited number of children) to the system; ready to send out an alert should you become separated for any reason. If you wish to be able to issue an alert, it is important that your App subscription is up to date and details of your child have been entered into the system. In an emergency, every second counts.
Joint accounts
If you share an iTunes account (Apple ID), you are able to add the App to each of the shared devices (iPhones) and one registration fee will allow the account sharers to sync the child's profiles, send and received alerts. To do this, one user registers an account with Lost-Kidz, then the other user logs in with this account also.
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Information Disclosure Options
Photo:
If people are looking for your child, it is clearly easier to spot a child if a photo is included. Without a photo, the public have no idea of knowing if someone is walking off with your child. If the alert just says 'a 3 year old girl' then the public have no idea of knowing whether a young child walking with an adult is the missing child with an abductor - and it is highly unlikely that they will stop every adult with a young child to check. A photo does not increase the chances of anyone seeing a lone child, but it does allow us to understand more about the many other situations that may arise when a child is lost - and for that we believe this is an important feature of the App.Name:
This is probably only an issue for children aged between 2 and 8 - with no sense of 'stranger danger' . Most children of this age will not distinguish between "what's your name' and 'Is your name X', so there is probably no additional risk if using your child's real name - but if you feel strongly about it you could just use 'our daughter' / 'our son' and / or a surname. The name is less important than the photo in terms of finding your child, but in the vast majority of cases (99.99%) will help to calm your child for the few seconds it takes for the finder to contact you using the App.Parent Profile:
The alert contains parent details with the option of including a photo. We believe this to be very important as after the alert is issued, if the public see your child with an adult who is not the alert sender, then they will be more inclined to intervene. The person may be a good citizen who has found the child (they may not have the App), they may have contacted the sender of the alert and be waiting. Either way, your details and photo will help everyone to make smarter decisions about how to act when they see the lost child - with or without an adult.
