Garage sale season is here

    Summer has arrived in Colorado, which means garage sale season is in full swing. If getting rid of an old car seat is on your summer cleaning to-do list, or if you’re an expectant parent hoping to save a few bucks by obtaining a secondhand seat, there are a few things you need to know. While reusing car seats may seem economical and environmentally friendly, Car Seats Colorado wants to remind parents there are some very serious safety risks involved.
    “A car seat is one of the most important things you will buy for your child,” said Colorado State Patrol Trooper Tim Sutherland, child passenger safety coordinator for Car Seats Colorado. “I’ve seen car seats save children’s lives, and, unfortunately, I’ve also seen too many car seats that failed because they were compromised or not properly installed.”
    Whether you’re looking to sell, give away, borrow or buy a used car seat, keep in mind these questions that could save your (or someone else’s) child’s life:
    — Has the car seat expired? Car seats expire, just like that sour milk in your fridge. This is due to several factors — materials wear down over time, models are only safety tested for a typical lifespan, and technology and safety standards change. The same is true for booster seats. You can find the expiration date stamped on the manufacturer label on the side or base of the seat. Generally, car seats expire six years after the date of manufacture.
    — Has it ever been recalled? If so, was the recall addressed and resolved? To check for recalls, you will need the make, model, model number and date of manufacture for the car seat. You can search for recalls online by going to CarSeatsColorado.com.
    — Has it ever been involved in a crash? The quality of a car seat is compromised after it has been in a moderate or severe crash — even if you can’t see evidence of damage to the seat. Avoid using a used car seat unless you know its entire history.
    — Can you verify the car seat has all its original parts? This includes hardware, harnesses and tether straps. If you’re not sure, get out the owner’s manual and check that all the parts are present. Otherwise, you may not realize a part is missing or damaged until it’s too late.
    — Does it have the original owner’s manual? Car seats are not always the most intuitive products to install. Without an owner’s manual and instructions, you run the risk of improperly installing the car seat. This also includes any special care instructions for the seat, as these are not typically universal.

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