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Are you a bargain hunter?¬ Do you hop from garage sales to thrift stores trying to find that big steal?¬ Sometimes getting a great deal is also putting your child into great danger.¬
Safe Kids Utah and the Utah County Health Department's Injury Prevention Program recommends against purchasing a car seat at a garage sale or thrift store. Often these seats are missing parts, damaged or on recall. There is no way to check them thoroughly without the complete manufacturer's instruction booklet. They may even have invisible damage from a crash.
For many families, buying a new car seat is hard to fit into their budget.¬ With all the other baby needs such as a stroller, crib, clothing, and diapers, it may seem that a new car seat may break the bank.¬ As a result, many families decide to save a few dollars and buy secondhand car seats or use a hand me down.¬ Saving a few dollars at the thrift store or local garage sale could cost you your child's life. Although secondhand stores are great for saving on children's clothing and shoes, car seats are not something you should ever buy used.
So, why shouldn't you buy a used car seat?¬ Here are the reasons:
1.¬ The car seat may have expired. Approximately 6 years after the date the car seat was manufactured,it will expire. It is best to replace a safety seat due to revisions in federal safety standards and design improvements.
2.¬ The instruction booklet may not be with the seat.¬ More than 90% of all car seats¬ inspected are used incorrectly. Improper installation can seriously affect the performance of the seat.
3.¬ Certain parts of the car seat may be broken or missing.¬ A previous owner may also have modified the seat, thus making it unsafe.
4.¬ The manufacturer may have recalled the car seat.¬ If there has been a recall, the broken or defective part must be replaced before use.
5.¬ The car seat may have been involved in a car crash.¬ A seat may look fine, but may have structural damage.¬ Most car seats should not be used after involvement in a crash.
You may think you need to get the most expensive car seat on the shelf to get the best product, but in reality, all car seats must meet the same safety criteria before being released for retail purchase. Your help is needed to spread the word about the dangers of buying a used car seat.¬ If you have any questions or to make an appointment for a car seat check, please call 851-7035 or 851-7068.¬ For more information on child passenger safety or injury prevention, please see www.UtahCountyHealth.org.
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