1 year ago
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It's a leading cause of death — motor vehicle crashes kill hundreds of children every year. But the right car seat can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury and death.However, hospitals across the country are finding more counterfeit and fake car seats."Counterfeit car seats are made of cheaper, flimsier materials and they unable to withstand the crash forces that happen in a crash,” Courtney Gleaton, an injury prevention coordinator at Orlando’s Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, said.Gleaton’s hospital system found 42 counterfeit car seats and 34 foreign-made car seats that didn’t pass inspections last year. Gleaton said they're on track to match those numbers again this year."They are not federally regulated in the U.S. and therefore are not safe to use for your children,” Gleaton said.Many of the knockoff car seats are bought online. Gleaton recommends not to buying from a third party, and before you spend money on a travel system, zoom in on the product picture to check the labels."All car seats in the U.S. are going to have English and Spanish labels not just photographs of them,” Gleaton said.If you already have a car seat for your child, check the straps and anchoring parts. If there are no lower anchor attachments or a chest clip, it might be counterfeit.Finally read the label. All federally compliant car seats should say that it conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards."If it did not come with a registration card or car seat manual that can also be an indicator that it's counterfeit,” Gleaton added.And if you're worried about your car seat, Gleaton said to go to a trained technician in your area who can make sure your seat is safe.You can find a nationally certified child passenger safety technician in your area by logging onto safekids.org, and clicking on "car seat checks."
It's a leading cause of death — motor vehicle crashes kill hundreds of children every year. But the right car seat can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury and death.
However, hospitals across the country are finding more counterfeit and fake car seats.
"Counterfeit car seats are made of cheaper, flimsier materials and they unable to withstand the crash forces that happen in a crash,” Courtney Gleaton, an injury prevention coordinator at Orlando’s Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, said.
Gleaton’s hospital system found 42 counterfeit car seats and 34 foreign-made car seats that didn’t pass inspections last year. Gleaton said they're on track to match those numbers again this year.
"They are not federally regulated in the U.S. and therefore are not safe to use for your children,” Gleaton said.
Many of the knockoff car seats are bought online. Gleaton recommends not to buying from a third party, and before you spend money on a travel system, zoom in on the product picture to check the labels.
"All car seats in the U.S. are going to have English and Spanish labels not just photographs of them,” Gleaton said.
If you already have a car seat for your child, check the straps and anchoring parts. If there are no lower anchor attachments or a chest clip, it might be counterfeit.
Finally read the label. All federally compliant car seats should say that it conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
"If it did not come with a registration card or car seat manual that can also be an indicator that it's counterfeit,” Gleaton added.
And if you're worried about your car seat, Gleaton said to go to a trained technician in your area who can make sure your seat is safe.
You can find a nationally certified child passenger safety technician in your area by logging onto safekids.org, and clicking on "car seat checks."
English (US)