STATEWIDE — For those seeking to get rid of or buy a secondhand car seat, there are a few things 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 (CSP) 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.”

During the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) three Click It or Ticket enforcement periods in 2017, 362 citations were issued for an improperly restrained child under the age of 16 — 81 of which involved children under the age of 4.

Keep in mind these questions that could save a 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. 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.

If you can’t confidently answer any one of these questions about a used car seat — do not buy or attempt to sell or donate it.

A modern, intact car seat is a child’s best protection in a crash. Don’t let the price of a car seat discourage you — more expensive does not mean safer. All car seats — whether they’re $40 or $400 — must meet the exact same safety standards.

While many people have good intentions in wanting to donate or pass down a free, used car seat they no longer need, it’s important that any potentially dangerous seats (those that don’t meet the criteria above) are removed from circulation. For this reason, Car Seats Colorado created a free recycling program for expired, damaged or unusable car seats.

“When in doubt, recycle the car seat,” said Sutherland. “It’s free and we have convenient drop-off locations throughout Colorado to make it as easy as possible.”

Car Seats Colorado works with more than 20 partners across the state that will accept car seats on the organization’s behalf to be recycled. Car seats can be dropped off at any time during business hours. To see a list of recycling program drop-off locations, visit CarSeatsColorado.com.