Badge holders are ingenious devices designed to hold ID cards and keep them safe from wear and tear. Paired with lanyards and reels, they prevent card loss and make displaying IDs convenient.
Reprinting IDs is expensive and inconvenient, but with badge holders, you can prevent ID losses and save money on new ID cards. Here are a few reasons you should consider using them.
1. Keep Your Cards in a Safe Place
Credit cards and debit cards make life a lot easier, but they are a convenient target for criminals. Fortunately, today’s cards come with many safeguards like microchips to stop fraud, zero liability policies and durable holders help prevent damage to the cards. But it’s important to practice good habits to protect your cards.
Keeping your card in a safe place is the first step to protecting it. Avoid carrying your cards around in public and never leave them unattended. Don’t share your card information on social media (even if you only post it to your Instagram Story), and always be aware of who’s watching you enter your PIN code. Keep in mind that “shoulder surfing” is a real thing and can be used to steal your personal identification number. If possible, memorize your PIN or use a password-protected app that requires two-factor authentication to log in.
Checking your bank account regularly can help you spot suspicious activity. And make sure to report any unauthorized transactions right away, as most card companies will give you full protection from fraudulent charges if you do so within 60 days of the transaction.
Another tip for card safety is to only utilize ATMs that are associated with your bank, and stay away from gas stations, convenience stores, airports and other places where thieves could attach a device called a skimming machine that captures your card data. If you must use a non-bank ATM, take the time to inspect the machine and look for signs of tampering.
Finally, don’t store your cards in your wallet or purse with other items that can be easily tampered with, such as keys or cell phones. Your cards may be exposed to moisture or heat, which can damage the plastic or make it more susceptible to bending and scratching.
One of the main reasons to invest in ID holders is that they can help prevent lost or damaged cards. By supplying your employees or students with holders, you can reduce the need for them to replace IDs, which is both expensive and wasteful. And if you have the same kind of badge holder for all members of your organization or school, you can also promote uniformity and give them an identity that looks professional and official to outsiders.
2. Keep Your Cards in a Retractable Badge Reel
Your ID card is a critical part of your work or event credentials and should always be close at hand to access your workplace or an event. Badge holders are a great way to keep your cards secure and readily available while you’re working and can be used with lanyards, strap clips, swivel hooks or badge reels.
Badge holders are a safe and convenient way to carry your ID cards because they protect the card from wear and tear. Many come with a card locking mechanism that keeps the cards in place when inserted so they cannot fall out and get lost. They also can have anti-transfer technology so the printing on the card does not rub off. Most importantly, they can help prevent electronic theft known as skimming, where thieves use hidden devices to steal credentials.
The most popular type of ID card holder is the badge reel, which is the most durable way to wear your credentials and easily swipe or scan them at work or events. Reels can hold one or multiple cards, depending on your need and are available in different sizes and colors. Most feature a retractable cord so the cards are quickly pulled out of the holder when needed and can be retracted easily back into the holder. Some even have a locking button to ensure the cord stays extended when not in use.
A variety of different attachment options for the reel are available including swivel hooks, o-rings, bulldog clips and snap hooks. These allow you to attach the badge reel to yourself and the rest of your equipment. Some even have a no-twist option that locks the reel in place to keep it from flipping around and accidentally getting caught on something.
Another type of holder is the badge case which is a solid plastic holder for your ID card. It can be attached to a lanyard using a wide plastic hook or clear vinyl strap connector, and is a good choice for those who need to wear their credentials at work but are not comfortable wearing a lanyard around the neck. The case is also customizable and can include front and back printing. It can also be affixed to a belt or pant waistline with a carabiner hook.
3. Keep Your Cards in a Lanyard
Whether in a work setting, at an event or anywhere else, ID cards are crucial for security. However, when they’re in an insecure location, they can be lost easily and become a safety risk. Using a lanyard with a card holder helps keep your cards secure and makes it easier to access them in high-pressure situations when you need to quickly grab your credentials.
A lanyard with a card holder is worn around the neck, making it easy to access your ID cards when needed without having to rummage through a bag or pockets. This can be especially useful in fast-paced or high-pressure situations, such as a medical emergency or a fire drill. It’s also a great way to promote an event or brand while still providing easy accessibility for attendees and keeping their credentials safe.
Lanyards with card holders come in a variety of colors and materials to suit your preferences and needs. Some are clear, while others can be printed with logos or designs. Some have a zippered closure or snap flap. There are also a number of different attachment types for holding your cards and other items, including swivel hooks, bulldog clips, breakaway loops and more.
Some swivel hook attachments won’t open when pulled or snagged, which is ideal for preventing your cards from getting lost. Others, like the split ring, are great for holding multiple cards, keys or USB drives and can help prevent your ID cards from bending – which is an issue when they’re held in the pocket of your pants.
A bulldog clip keeps your cards level and facing forward, which is ideal if you need to scan your cards or keep them visible for security purposes (common with healthcare or government). Some are metal and some are plastic, but both have an easy-to-open, quick-release mechanism. You can also get breakaway lanyards with a swivel hook or bulldog clip, which helps prevent injuries in the event of a fall. This type of lanyard is great for schools and other institutions where students or employees wear a swivel hook, but need to be able to break free in the event of an accident.
4. Keep Your Cards in a Card Holder
When ID cards are stored in card holders, they can be kept free from damage. They can also be easily accessed when they are needed in the moment. Card holders are available in a variety of rigid and flexible materials and colors. Some are even made with a metal clip or a magnetic strip to make them secure. They are a great way to keep your ID cards in good condition and increase their lifespans.
Many people keep their ID cards in their wallets. This is a bad idea for several reasons, including that it can cause the cards to crack. I used to work in a Social Security office, and I saw this happen hundreds of times to customers. If you are going to keep your cards in a wallet, make sure they are in a plastic sleeve, or at least in one of the pockets that is not used for other items.
Another reason to keep your cards in card holders is that it can help to prevent them from getting lost. It can be inconvenient and expensive to lose an ID card, especially if it has your Social Security number on it or other sensitive information.
There are a variety of different types of ID card holders, but they all serve the same basic purpose. Some have a flexible material to protect ID cards from bending, while others have a rigid material that is more secure for smart cards or proximity cards. There are also some that can be clipped on to lanyards or reels, and there are even some that have an internal locking mechanism to keep the cards in place.
ID card holders are a great way to ensure that you and your employees or students can always access the information they need in a hurry. They can also help you to avoid the expense of having to replace ID cards that are lost or damaged, which can add up quickly. They are also a great way to promote uniformity amongst employees or students, and they can give your organization a professional look.
