Are secondhand car seats safe?

Suzie Kim, Santa Monica Police Dept, explains whether or not second hand car seats are safe for your child to use and how to tell whether or not a car seat is safe for your child
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Are secondhand car seats safe?

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A lot of parents want to know if they can buy used car seat. We recommend that you never purchase a used car seat because you don't know the history behind it. You don't know if it's been involved in an accident and if it's been involved in an accident then that would render it unsafely used in a car. If it is your car seat and you've been involved in an accident you need to notify your insurance company and they will replace that car seat right way for you and then you should properly discard of a car seat that was in your vehicle by cutting all the straps out so that it can't be used again because again that car seat's has already been in an accident and it can't be guaranteed as being one that will protect your child if it's involve in an accident again.

Suzie Kim, Santa Monica Police Dept, explains whether or not second hand car seats are safe for your child to use and how to tell whether or not a car seat is safe for your child

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Suzie Kim

Crime Prevention, Santa Monica Police Dept.

Suzie Kim has spent more than five years teaching parents and caregivers how to safely install their car seat systems.  Suzie and her partner hold monthly car seat inspection events at the Santa Monica Police Department, providing education on the proper use and installation of the various types of car seats as well as sharing information on seat belts, air bags, and the proper time to switch car seat systems. She tries to fit in as many appointments as possible and has assisted parents/caregivers with over 1,500 car seat installations! Suzie has been with the Santa Monica Police Department for 14 years working in Crime Prevention and Community Relations. She serves on the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, YMCA Early Childhood Development Board, and as an Explorer Advisor for the Santa Monica Police Department. In her free time Suzie enjoys spending time with her four sons, swimming, travelling, and other outdoor adventures.

Car Seats, Car Seats, Car Seats
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Transcription: 
A lot of parents want to know if they can buy used car seat. We recommend that you never purchase a used car seat because you don't know the history behind it. You don't know if it's been involved in an accident and if it's been involved in an accident then that would render it unsafely used in a car. If it is your car seat and you've been involved in an accident you need to notify your insurance company and they will replace that car seat right way for you and then you should properly discard of a car seat that was in your vehicle by cutting all the straps out so that it can't be used again because again that car seat's has already been in an accident and it can't be guaranteed as being one that will protect your child if it's involve in an accident again.