PrepMeKids Privacy Policy
Latest Update February 28, 2024
Please read this privacy policy carefully before using PrepMeKids services. We take
your privacy seriously and want to ensure you understand how we collect, use, and
treat your personal information.
This privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”), together with our Terms and Conditions, and
Disclaimer represents PrepMeKids privacy practices as it pertains to our services and
products. By accepting this Privacy Policy or otherwise accessing, visiting or using the
services, you acknowledge and consent to the data collection and use practices
described in this Privacy Policy.
At PrepMeKids ("PrepMeKids", "PMK", "Company", "we", "us", or "our'',), we hold
your data, privacy, and personal information in the highest regard and are committed to
respecting your privacy in connection with your use of our website,
www.prepmekids.com ("website", "platform", "site") and the products, services and
features that may be referenced on The Website or otherwise offered by PrepMeKids
(our “Products and Services”). PrepMeKids acknowledges that despite its efforts, it
cannot entirely eliminate all security risks, as occasional mistakes and breaches may
occur.
Information about the Privacy Policy
If you have any questions, comments or requests about this Privacy Policy or your data,
please contact us at privacy@prepmekids.com
When using PrepMeKids services or products, you will be asked to acknowledge and,
where appropriate, to give consent to the practices laid out in this policy.
- We only collect the personal information we need in order to provide you with PrepMeKids services and products. We do not collect more information than we need. The personal information that we ask you to provide us, or give you the option to provide us, is intended to help us create a highly personalized book.
- We do not use your personal information for purposes unrelated to the reasons for which it was collected, or that would not conform to your reasonable expectations. We know it is important to you that you be aware of all the reasons that your information is collected, used and shared by PrepMeKids.
- We do not retain personal information for longer than is necessary. We understand the importance of minimizing the personal information that we may maintain. We will only retain your data for the period of time necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including delivering requested products and services, protecting the interests of our users and other stakeholders, and as otherwise consistent with our legal obligations or your reasonable expectations.
- We do not sell your personal information to others. We will not sell your personal information to third parties, except to the extent that our sharing of personal information to facilitate the production of your book may be considered “selling” or “sharing” your personal information under certain country or state laws.
About Us
PrepMeKids offers personalized books for children and families that aim to demystify
medical procedures and conditions with the hopes of improving healthcare experiences
through preparation. With millions of children facing medical procedures or living with
chronic illnesses, we aspire to provide our services ("books", "website", "apps",
"content") as a source of support for children and their families without compromising
their data protection. PrepMeKids books are intended for home use to help prepare
children and their families for upcoming medical procedures or to help prepare children
for life with a specific illness or disability. Furthermore, within our book portfolio, we may
offer additional resources designed to assist children in comprehending life transitions,
navigating complex topics, and mindfulness exercises.
To access our services, only an authorized user, including a child's parent(s), legal
guardian(s), or an individual granted explicit permissions by an authorized user, is
authorized to share a minor child's information and must agree to our Terms and
Conditions, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer. We combine research and inputs provided by
an authorized user to co-create one-of-a-kind books for children. PrepMeKids is
designed to complement, not substitute, the care and oversight of a legally qualified
medical provider.
To enhance the customization of your child's experience, PrepMeKids utilizes user
inputs provided by an authorized user solely for the purpose of creating a personalized
book tailored to a child's unique needs. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy
and ensuring a secure and enjoyable learning environment for your child.
Authorized Users & Minors
Our Platform is intended for caregivers at least 18 years old or older. If you are
providing personal information about another individual, you affirm that you are at least
18 years of age or older and have the legal authority to do so. No one under the age of
18 is authorized to submit or post any information, including personal information on our
platform. Parents or guardians may use the Services and share their child's personal
information with the PrepMeKids system, but a child under the age of 18 may not use
the Services themselves. For clarity, explicit consent must be given or authorized by the
holder of parental responsibility over the child before providing personal information of a
child below the age of 18 years. If you are providing personal information about another
individual, make sure you have their consent, or the authority, to provide such
information.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13
without parental or legal guardian(s) consent. We believe in the importance of protecting
the privacy of children online. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
governs information gathered online from or about children under the age of 13.
Verifiable consent from a child’s parent or guardian is required before collecting, using,
or disclosing personal information from a child under age 13. Our digital media is not
intended to solicit information from children under age 13.
If you believe we have collected information from a child without consent, please
contact us at: privacy@prepmekids.com
Information Collected or Received
We may collect information for our internal business purposes, such as data analysis,
audits, research, developing new products or services, improving our Services,
identifying Services usage trends, and determining the effectiveness of our Services. If
you fail to provide personal data when requested, we may not be able to perform the
contract we have or are trying to enter with you (for example, where you do not provide
suitable delivery instructions to provide you with goods or services, or if essential
information about your child's medical procedure or details is missing). In this case, we
may have to cancel a product or service you have with us. In operating our Services, we
may collect and process the following types of information.
Personal or Account Information: Information such as your name, email address, and
other identifying information may be collected when you create an account or interact
with our services to allow you to access your data on multiple devices; to communicate
with you (updates, and information related to our services or products, for example,
printing and shipping status, surveys and feedback), as well as allow you access to our
Services and save your information.
Profile information, including but not limited to birthdate, gender, name, nickname, and
physical characteristics may be collected solely for the purpose of creating a book.
Health data may include information an authorized user provides about a child's
medical procedures, symptoms, medications, diagnosis, treatments, known or
suspected allergens, chronic illnesses, disabilities, anticipated outcomes, and related
information, but is not limited to these examples.
Device information and usage data: We may collect data on how you use our website
and services, including the pages you viewed, your interactions, cookies, and device
information. This data helps us improve the quality of our offerings.
Examples may include: Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to
the Internet, your login information, browser type and version, time zone setting,
browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform; information about
your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL) clickstream to, through
and from our site (including date and time); products you viewed, purchased or
searched for; page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages,
page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs), and methods
used to browse away from the page and any contact information (email, address, phone
number) used or shared with our services our customer service.
Orders and shipping information: When you place an order with us, we may collect
necessary details to fulfill your purchase, including your name, shipping address, billing
address, payment information, and contact information. This information is solely used
for processing and delivering your order, as well as for customer support purposes.
Relationships to People or Places: In creating personalized books, we may collect
information related to the relationships with individuals or places, such as family
members and family structure. This may include, but is not limited to, names,
nicknames, or physical characteristics of family members or other support characters.
This data is gathered solely for the purpose of personalizing the content of the book and
ensuring relevance to the child's life experiences. We treat this information with the
utmost confidentiality and use it exclusively for the book creation purposes.
Marketing and Communications Data We may place ads on third party sites (such as
Instagram, but is not limited to this example). When you view or otherwise interact with
our ads, we and our partners may use various technologies (such as cookies) to collect
and store information about you including cookie data and IDs for attribution and
advertising purposes. We use these technologies to help us understand more about our
customers and the effectiveness of our adverts.
How We Collect Personal Data
We use different methods to collect data from and about you including through;
Direct interactions.
You may give us your Identity, Contact, Technical and Financial Data by using our
platform, filling in forms or by corresponding with us by phone, email or otherwise. This
includes personal data you provide when you:
- Apply or use our products or services.
- Create an account on our website.
- Sign in on our website using your Gmail account or other account credentials.
- Utilize chat, messages, emails to communicate with us on our website www.prepmekids.com or social media accounts (for example, Instagram @prepmekids).
- Subscribe to our service or publications.
- Request marketing to be sent to you.
- Make a telephone call to us and leave a message or request a call back.
- Enter a competition, promotion, or survey.
- React to marketing posts on our social media forums (including but not limited to our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram pages).
- Give us feedback.
Automated technologies or interactions.
As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect Technical Data about
your equipment, browsing actions and patterns. We collect this personal data by using
cookies, server logs and other similar technologies. We may also receive Technical
Data about you if you visit other websites employing our cookies.
Third parties or publicly available sources.
We may receive personal data about you from various third parties as set out below:
Profile Data, Usage Data, Marketing and Communication Data, and Aggregated Data
from the following parties;
- Analytics providers such as Google based outside the EU.
- Advertising networks.
- Search information providers.
- Third-party providers of technical, payment, and delivery services.
- From publicly available sources.
How We Use Your Personal Data
We may use data held about you in the following ways:
- To facilitate the provision of our books and associated services.
- To enable your engagement with interactive features on the Website at your discretion.
- To organize competitions and promotional activities.
- To communicate with you regarding requested products and services.
- To keep you informed about updates to the Website and our offerings.
- To optimize the presentation of Website content for your benefit and device compatibility.
- To manage Website operations, including troubleshooting, data analysis, and research.
- To assess the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and provide relevant ads.
- To utilize data analytics for enhancing our website, products, services, and customer experiences.
- To send reminders about our products or services.
- To furnish you with additional information, products, or services based on your interests or requests, provided you've given consent.
- To reach out to you via email, online push notifications, mobile communication (e.g., text messages), and postal mail.
Legal Basis:
Our processing of your personal data is based on the following legal
grounds:
Performance of a contract with you: To provide you with our books and related
services, contact you about products and services you have requested, and
communications regarding product delivery.
Legitimate Interest: To interact with our website, conduct competitions and promotions,
notify you about changes to the Website and products/services, measure advertising
effectiveness, use data analytics for website improvement, remind you about our
products/services, and provide you with other information, products, or services that
may interest you.
Consent: Where you have consented to be contacted for specific purposes, such as
receiving information about products or services.
Marketing and Opting Out
We strive to provide you with choices regarding certain personal data uses, particularly
around marketing and advertising.
Where you have not previously bought from us but have registered your details with us
(for example by entering a competition or signing up for a newsletter or registering for
product updates or live dates), we will only send you marketing communications if you
opted into receiving marketing at the time and so gave us your express consent.
However, if you receive a service from us, we will still need to send occasional
service-related messages.
If you personally want to update or amend the details that you have registered with us,
or would like to unsubscribe altogether, you can do this by contacting us at
privacy@prepmekids.com
Where Data is Stored & Processed
PrepMeKids operates in multiple jurisdictions. We may process and share your data
among service providers based in countries other than your country of residence.
By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing or processing.
Retention Time
Your data is kept only for the time necessary to provide the service or product you
request, or to fulfill the purpose outlined in this policy.
To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider the
amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from
unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes for which we
process your personal data and whether we can achieve those purposes through other
means, and the applicable legal requirements. For example, details of your orders will
be kept for as long as we need to retain that data to comply with any legal requirements.
In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal data (so that it can no longer
be associated with you) for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use
this information indefinitely without further notice to you.
Digital book versions are retained for up to six months from the date of purchase,
commencement, or creation, after which they are deleted. Users can access their digital
book by using their personal individual login credentials for up to six months, after which
digital books are deleted.
Your Legal Rights & GDPR
Under GDPR regulations, you have certain rights regarding your personal data:
Access: You can request access to your personal data to receive a copy of the
information we hold about you.
Correction: You can request correction of any incomplete or inaccurate personal data
we hold about you.
Deletion: You can ask for deletion or removal of your personal data under specific
circumstances, such as when it's no longer needed for the purposes originally collected,
or when you've withdrawn consent.
Objection: You can object to the processing of your personal data in certain situations,
including direct marketing purposes.
Restriction: You can request the suspension of processing your personal data in cases
where you contest its accuracy or object to its use.
Identity Verification: We may request specific information from you to confirm your
identity and ensure data protection.
We try to respond to all legitimate requests as soon as possible. It may take us longer if
your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. We may
refuse to comply with your request in the circumstances whereby your request is clearly
unfounded, repetitive or excessive.
You can also exercise your rights at any time by contacting us at
privacy@prepmekids.com
Cookies
We may employ cookies and or similar tracking technologies to gather information
about your activities on our website www.prepmekis.com and on social media accounts
(instagram, facebook, linkedin, but is not limited to these examples) for various reasons.
This information may be used to help identify and troubleshoot any technical or
performance issues; to provide a seamless experience; for broad location detection
purposes. You can manage your cookie preferences by adjusting your browser settings.
By continuing to browse the Website or Site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. A
cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard
drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to
your computer's hard drive.
Third-party cookies, such as those from advertising networks or web traffic analysis
services, may also be used. You can adjust your browser settings to block cookies, but
this may limit access to certain parts of our site.
Devices have the ability to decline or block cookies. This can be done by activating the
setting on your browser which enables you to decline the cookies. Please note that
should you choose to decline cookies, you may be unable to access particular parts of
our Services.
Aggregated Insights
PrepMeKids may collect or share general insights from our services using de-identified aggregated data. This means the data is stripped of personal details. Examples may include overall statistics, like the total number of children in an area who had a specific medical procedure or used our services. This helps us better understand service demand while keeping your personal information private. We will only ever use aggregated data, to use, solely in de-identifiable form, to better understand the demand of our services.
Third-Party Service Providers and Websites
This website includes links to third-party websites, plug-ins and applications. Clicking on
those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data
about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their
privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy
notice of every website you visit.
PrepMeKids uses social media and may use third-party (non-prepmekids) websites to
share information and to engage the public. Your activity on those sites is governed by
the third-party website’s security and privacy policies. Users of third-party sites often
share information with the general public, user community, and/or the third-party
operating the site. Consequently, you should review the privacy policies of third-party
sites before using them and ensure that you understand how your information may be
shared and used. You should also adjust privacy settings on your account on any
third-party site to match your preferences.
Also, there may be third-party applications and/or services linked to or embedded on
www.prepemkids.com to improve its functionality. Likewise, applications created by
PrepMeKids may be embedded on third-party websites to increase public awareness of
PrepMeKids services and activities.
We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in
delivering our services or supporting our operations. These service providers are bound
to adhere to their own internal privacy policies and we are not responsible for their
privacy statements. This website includes links to third-party websites, plug-ins and
applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third
parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites
and are not responsible for their privacy statements. We encourage you to always read
the privacy notice of every website you visit.
Print Partners
Our print partners and authorized personnel, currently engaged in processing your
personal data, are bound by confidentiality obligations. They are prohibited from
accessing or processing your personal data without your explicit authorization, except
when necessary for providing our services to you. Print Partners shall comply with all
applicable requirements of the applicable data protection legislation and shall implement
appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data.
Print partners are legally able to change their privacy policy at their sole discretion and
at any time. Our relationship with print partners remains subject to change at any time
for any reason at our sole discretion.
Wordpress
Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://wordpress.org/about/privacy/
Woocommerce
Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://woo.com/document/marketplace-privacy/
Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy
Payments
We use third-party services for payment processing (e.g. payment processors). We will not store or collect your payment card details. That information is provided directly to our third-party payment processors whose use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy. These payment processors adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of payment information.
Stripe (payment processor)
Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://stripe.com/us/privacy
User-Generated Content and Social Media
PrepMeKids' posts and comments unequivocally do not serve as medical advice. Under
no circumstances should they be used as a substitute for, or a reason to delay, seeking
medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional. Additionally, any
user-generated comments or posts on our platform are also not to be construed as
medical advice or endorsements by PrepMeKids. Always consult your physician or
another qualified healthcare professional for any queries related to medical conditions,
disabilities, symptoms, etc.
The views and opinions expressed in user-generated content and social media content
posted on PrepMeKids are not necessarily endorsed by us, and we do not validate any
statements or comments made. We cannot guarantee any of the information's accuracy
or completeness. We are not liable for any posts or comments made by users on our
platform or social media channels.
PrepMeKis digital media may allow the public to access and share information on
various social media channels or blogs.
When using these features on PMKs digital media, you are responsible for the content
of the post, tweet, or blog entry. Please note:
- Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on PrepMeKids or its associated materials, posts, comments, content, books, etc.
- PrepMeKids does not endorse or support any specific treatment plan or surgical procedures. Our role is entirely neutral, and we offer our personalized books as a resource for those seeking such services.
- PrepMeKids does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or management of conditions or symptoms. Any comments and views expressed on PMK social media channels are not a substitute for medical advice.
- PMKs does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of comments on its social media channels or blogs.
- PMKs does not authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in a personal message. Those who provide comments are responsible for the copyright of the text they provide.
PrepMeKids values the active participation and creativity of our community. We may,
from time to time, feature or share content created by our users on our website, or on
our official instagram page and other social medical platforms. By sharing your content
(social media post, comment, feedback,etc) with PrepMekids, you grant us a
non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute
your content for promotional, educational, and inspiration purposes.
We respect your intellectual property rights and will prove proper attribution whenever
possible. If you do not wish your content to be featured or shared, please contact us at
privacy@prepmekids.com and we will address your request as soon as possible.
We encourage you to share your experiences with our products and services, but
please be mindful and respectful of the privacy and rights of others when posting on
social media or other public platforms. We reserve the right to remove, delete, or report
comments that are hateful, false, harmful to us or others, or otherwise inappropriate at
our sole discretion.
Disclaimer
PrepMeKids' books, posts, and content do not constitute medical advice. They should
not be used as a substitute for seeking medical attention from a qualified healthcare
professional. Our content is for informational purposes only and should not replace
professional medical advice. If you have concerns or questions about your child's
health, consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. Relying on
the information provided in our materials is done solely at your own risk.
The content in our books, regardless of date, is not intended to replace direct medical
advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. PrepMeKids does not
provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or management of conditions or
symptoms. PrepMeKids aims to be a supportive tool for individuals preparing for
medical procedures or conditions. We want to emphasize that we do not endorse or
support any specific treatment or surgical procedures. Our role is entirely neutral, and
we offer our personalized books as a resource for those seeking such services.
The information and sequence of events presented in PrepMeKids books are based on
general medical information and caregiver inputs (authorized user), but the actual
process may vary depending on the healthcare provider's preferences, specific
circumstances of the condition or procedure, individual needs, and local protocols or
medical advancements.
Always consult with your medical provider to discuss all medical conditions and
procedures, risks, and preparation strategies. While efforts are made to ensure the
accuracy of our content, errors in information, authorized user inputs, selections, or
printing errors may occur. Despite our efforts to maintain accuracy, the production
process may present errors, whether printing-related or informational.
While efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of our content, discrepancies between
the information presented in PrepMeKids books and actual medical procedures,
outcomes, or processes may occur. These discrepancies may arise due to various
factors such as updates in medical practices, individual patient circumstances, a
healthcare provider's preferences or changes in healthcare protocols. We cannot be
held liable for any discrepancies.
Preparation does not completely alleviate a child's fears or concerns, and while our
books are designed to provide support to children and their families, it's important to
note that preparation alone may not fully alleviate a child's fears or concerns. We do not
make claims or guarantees that our books will eliminate procedural anxiety, fear, or
(valid) emotions. Many children will still experience fear, apprehension, and anxiety
before medical interventions. However, our hope is that they will have an improved
understanding of what may occur and empower them to communicate any questions or
concerns with an adult or qualified medical provider. Our books are specifically crafted
to assist children in expressing their emotions, with the hope of improving the overall
process.
Children may exhibit varied responses to the content of our books and preparation
strategies, and we cannot be held responsible for individual reactions or effects on
children, caregivers, or families. While we hope our books will aid in forming clear
expectations, we cannot guarantee this outcome.
PrepMeKids is not a healthcare or medical company, medical authority, or medical
provider. PrepMeKids is designed to complement, not substitute, the care and oversight
of a legally qualified medical provider. To access our services, only an authorized user
who is 18 years old or older, including a child's parent(s), legal guardian(s), or an
individual granted explicit permissions by an authorized user, is authorized to share a
minor child's information and must agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
PrepMeKids does not, under any circumstances, provide medical advice, diagnosis,
treatment, or management of medical conditions. PrepMeKids is not a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your
physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it
because of something you have read on PrepMeKids or its associated materials, social
media accounts or commentary.
Changes to the Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any
reason. Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be posted on
our website with an updated revision date. Your continued use of or access to our
services following any changes to this policy constitutes acceptance to those changes.
Any updates will be posted on our website, and the revised policy will take effect
immediately. We encourage you to review our privacy policy when you use our Products
and Services to stay abreast on our information practices.
If we make a change to our privacy policy and you disagree with the change, you will
need to stop providing us your information; stop accessing and otherwise using our
Products and Services; and, if you have an account, terminate your account and you
may choose not to submit any further Personal Information.
Thank you for choosing PrepMeKids as your source of support for your child and family.
We are committed to providing a safe and privacy-respecting environment for all users.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us at privacy@prepmekids.com
Information for California Residents
In compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), PrepMeKids is
obligated to provide California residents with specific details concerning the handling of
their personal information. For comprehensive information on how we manage data
governed by these regulations, please refer to this Privacy Policy and our Notice of
Privacy Practices.
When you visit our website, PrepMeKids collects various categories of personal
information, including identifiers, inferences, and usage data. This data is utilized to
operate, manage, and promote our business, enhance user experiences, and support
our products and services. While we do not directly sell your information for monetary
gain, we may disclose it to third parties, such as print partners and analytics services.
Such disclosures may be considered a "sale" under CCPA guidelines. We disclose
categories of third parties with whom we share personal information, including those
involved in advertising and website analytics integrations.
California residents are entitled to make the following requests, up to twice every 12
months:
- Request for specific pieces of personal information collected by PrepMeKids.
- Request for disclosure of the types of personal information collected, used, disclosed, or shared by PrepMeKids.
- Request for deletion of personal information collected by PrepMeKids (subject to certain exceptions).
- Opt-out of the "sale" of personal information.
To exercise your rights to access and delete data, please email us at
privacy@prepmekids.com.
In accordance with California law, exercising your rights will not result in different pricing
or quality of services unless directly related to the value of your information.
Latest Update February 28, 2024