Feb 14, 2008 6:54 pm US/Mountain
Child Car Seats Get Trashed In Ft. Collins
Many Parents Are Unaware Of Expiration Dates On Child Car Seats
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) ―
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A Colorado state trooper gets ready to throw an unsafe child car seat into the trash truck.
CBS
It was a rather odd scene in Fort Collins on Thursday -- Colorado state troopers, police officers, firefighters and child safety officials tossing used child car seats into a trash truck.
Even though many of the seats still appeared to be useable, some were expired and some had pieces that were loose and missing. Officials wanted to bring to light the fact that even if a child car seat looks safe, it might not be.
Such is often the case with many such seats that get passed on to friends, or get bought or sold at garage sales.
The coordinator of Colorado's Child Passenger Safety Program says after 6 years child seats expire because the plastic and straps can become brittle.
"Seats do have an expiration date," said Vera Fullaway.
Fullaway says someone buying a used car seat might wind up with one of the less-safe models, such as one with a a T-shield.
"If a child sitting in (a seat with a T-shield) is too short, the child's body can submarine down and underneath; their throat can get caught on the T-shield portion and they can get very badly hurt," she said.
Seats with a belt-positioning booster that has a shield on the front do not meet current federal motor vehicle safety standards. Seats with missing pads and straps are also highly unsafe.
Fullaway said some people don't buy newer car seats because of the cost. Others don't understand the seriousness of having the proper child car seat.
The seats that were dumped on Thursday had been collected at car seat check-ups and other child passenger safety activities throughout last year.
A Colorado State Patrol news release announcing the event stated the following facts:Riding unrestrained is the greatest risk for death and injury among child occupants of motor vehicles. According to trauma data collected from Poudre Valley Health System and McKee Medical Center, over 200 children were treated due to motor vehicle crashes in Larimer County between 2001 and 2005. Since 2004, four children younger than 14 years old, have died in motor vehicle crashes on Larimer County roads.
When used correctly, child safety seats and safety belts are extremely effective and can reduce the risk of death by up to 71 percent.
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