Infant & Child Car Seat Safety Check and Rental Program
Car seat safety checks are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Health Department.
Advertised safety checks will be conducted throughout the county during the year.
If you have any questions, or would like to make an appointment, call 217-253-4137.
Douglas County Car Seat Safety Checkpoint Frequently Asked Questions:
- Who can rent a car seat from the Douglas County Buckle Up Program?
- How do I rent a child safety seat?
- What types of child safety car seats are available, and how are they used?
- What is the cost of the rental?
- How long can I keep the car seat?
- How do I use the car seat properly?
- What is the law in Illinois regarding children as passengers?
Who can rent a car seat from the Douglas County Buckle Up Program?
- ALL residents of Douglas County transporting children ages 0-8 years.
- Pregnant women within 30 days of their due date.
- Grandparents with visiting grandchildren.
- County residents with visiting children.
How do I rent a child safety seat?
- Call the Douglas County Health Dept. at 217-253-4137.
- An appointment is advisable, the visit will take approximately 30 minutes.
What types of child safety car seats are available, and how are they used?
- Infant and Convertible Seats are used for infants from birth to 40 lbs. The seat MUST be rear facing in the back seat until the child is one year of age and at least 20 pounds. At one year of age and 20 pounds, the child may be forward facing. NEVER PLACE A BABY IN FRONT OF AN AIR BAG.
- Toddler/Child Booster Seats are for children from 30-80 pounds. All children should use a belt-positioning booster until they are 80 pounds or 8 years old.
What is the cost of the rental?
- Fee - $20.00
- The seat must be renewed every six months with exchanges made for the next size as needed. No further fee will be collected beyond the initial fee.
- If the seat is in any type of vehicle crash, the seat will be replaced with NO QUESTIONS ASKED. It is not safe to use a seat that has been involved in a crash!
How long can I keep the car seat?
- A seat may be kept until the child no longer fits the seat.
- The loan contract must be renewed every 6 months to ensure that the seat is still appropriate and that there are no problems.
- The car seat must be returned if the person renting and using the seat should move from Douglas County.
- Remember, if the seat is in any type of vehicle crash, the seat will be replaced with NO QUESTIONS ASKED. It is not safe to use a seat that has been involved in a crash!
How do I use the car seat properly?
- A certified child passenger safety technician will provide hands on training to teach the adult how to make the proper adjustments to fit the seat to the child. The technician will also train the adult how to correctly install the seat in the vehicle.
- If you have any questions, please call 217-253-4137, or stop by the Health Department at 1250 E US Hwy 36 in Tuscola
What is the law in Illinois regarding children as passengers?
The Child Passenger Protection Act was established to protect the health and safety of children through the proper use of "approved child restraint systems." You can view this information at http://www.buckleupillinois.org/illaw.html.
For more information on child safety seats or the law, contact the Douglas County Health Department or the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration