If I Need Help

Parents who have a child who is nonverbal or who has limited verbal communication, live with unease of what could happen to their child in an emergency. The horror of what might happen if the parent couldn’t speak for the child is a very real fear.

Suppose the parent was injured or if their child wandered off or was lost. How would someone know about their medical needs, who to contact, or how to comfort the child? How would they know who to contact?

I recently learned about a tag that my child could wear to help protect her in case of an emergency. If I Need Help is an organization that provides items to help protect a child (or adult) who may wander and/or has trouble communicating.

The organization’s website offers several items that a child can carry or wear to identify them, and provide contact information. They can also inform someone how to assist and provide comfort. All items have a code or a case number unique to your child. The code allows emergency personnel or other rescuer access to information to help the child.

Parents can create a free profile on the website with information about their child. This profile is tied to the code or case number. Someone who finds the child or is trying to help in an emergency situation can scan the code with a smart phone, or enter the case number on the If I Need Help website and get the information

The items can be worn and/or carried by children or adults of all ages. The items, combined with the profile on the website, can give peace of mind to parents, knowing that their child will be taken care of in their absence.

Learn additional ways to keep your family safe under the Emergency Preparedness for Families of Children with Disabilities page.