New parents leaving Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center will soon receive child identification kits designed to help protect their babies during an emergency.

Funded by the Floyd Spirit Foundation, the new initiative will provide the kits at no cost to families as newborns are discharged from the hospital’s Family Birth Center.

Each kit includes two durable identification tags that can be attached to a child’s car seat. The tags hold essential emergency contact and medical information that could help first responders and healthcare workers quickly identify a child and contact family members or caregivers during a crisis.

Dr. Cline Jackson, an emergency room physician at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and father of six, said the kits offer a simple solution for children who may be unable to communicate important information.

Jackson’s son has Down syndrome and is minimally verbal. He said the identification system would provide first responders with a place to find critical information if his son were ever separated from the family during an emergency.

The kits will be introduced as part of the Family Birth Center’s child-safety education before families leave the hospital. Staff members will explain how the tags work while reviewing car-seat safety and other discharge instructions.

Floyd Spirit Foundation Director Sarah Husser said providing the kits as families prepare to take their newborns home allows safety education to be delivered when parents are especially engaged and receptive.

Local police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel are already familiar with the identification system, helping ensure the information can be used effectively during real-world emergencies.

The Floyd Spirit Foundation is the teammate-led philanthropic arm of Atrium Health Floyd and supports programs addressing health and safety needs throughout the communities served by the healthcare system.