Niagara County, NY – As temperatures drop and winter clothing comes out, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to take extra precautions when buckling children into car seats.
According to the department, bulky coats and snowsuits can compress during a crash, creating slack in the car seat harness that may increase the risk of serious injury. Safety officials recommend dressing children in thin, layered clothing and using a lightweight fleece jacket instead.
Parents are advised to place a thicker coat or blanket over the child after they’ve been properly buckled, rather than under the harness. The sheriff’s office also cautions against car seat covers that go behind the child, as they can create unsafe gaps between the seat and the child.
For added safety, the Sheriff’s Traffic Safety Educator, Cathleen Davis, offers free car seat inspections and guidance for families. She can be reached at 716-438-3464 for appointments or questions.
The department’s post also includes a “Car Seat Slack Challenge,” encouraging parents to test whether their child’s winter coat causes unsafe looseness in the harness.
“A properly fitted harness can save a life,” Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti emphasized in the release.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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