Expiration dates on car seats
By Rajah Maples Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 5:27 p.m. You’ve heard for years about the importance of putting children in car seats. Not doing so could land you in a load of legal troubles. Now there’s another aspect of car seats you need to pay attention to — their expiration date. That’s right, manufacturers are now putting expiration dates on car seats to let you know that you need to throw them away if they’re more than 6 years old.
KHQA’s Rajah Maples”called on Safe Kids of Adams County to find out what that means for parents and even grandparents. Safe Kids Adams County Coordinator Jan Hummel says she’s *always* recommended throwing out car seats if they’re more than 6 years old.
Jan Hummel:”"We know that plastic can deteriorate over time, and the stopping and going of the vehicle as the seat’s strapped in it can cause minute hairline fractures that may cause the seat to malfunction in a crash.” Rajah: “Let’s address the predicament some grandparents are in…..say their car seat is 8 years old, but they’ve only used it a little bit here and there for each grandchild.
Can you address what you recommend in situations like that?” Jan Hummel: “We would prefer the person not use it. BUT, It’s so important to remember that children are always safer in car seats no matter what. The bottom line is if that’s the only seat you have access to, use it.” Hummel says you should always throw away a car seat that’s been in a crash. Rajah: “Say you’re at a garage sale, and you see a car seat made in 2004.