OHIO BUCKLES BUCKEYES (OBB) CAR SEAT PROGRAM

Hannah Josefczyk
OBB Program Coordinator
P: 740-652-2852
hannah.josefczyk@fairfieldcountyohio.gov

The Ohio Department of Health's child passenger safety (CPS) program, Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families in all Ohio counties. The overall goal of this program is to increase the availability of child safety seats for families who could not otherwise afford them and to increase correct installation and proper use of child safety seats. Our certified technicians can also schedule an appointment with you to get your car seat checked.

Requirements for OBB Program

In order to receive an OBB seat, families who are income-eligible* must attend an educational class provided by trained local CPS staff. In this session, the parent /caregiver(s) receives important education on how to properly use the car seat for their child and are instructed on how to correctly install the car seat in their vehicle. 

*income must be within WIC guidelines although recipient does not need to be enrolled in WIC. Check your eligibility

Did you know?

• • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of childhood fatalities in the U.S.
• • At least 3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly, putting children at risk for injury or death.
• • It’s the law! In Ohio, children must be properly restrained in a child safety seat until they are at least 4 years old and 40 pounds. Then they must ride in a child safety seat or booster seat until they reach 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Car seat use reduces the risk of death to infants younger than age 1 by 71% and to toddlers 1 to4-years-old by 54% in passenger vehicles.

The right car seat for a child should be selected based on a child’s height and weight, age, and developmental level. Consider these factors when choosing the right seat:

• • Height and weight - Car seats have height and weight limits, and can have different limits for each type of use (such as forward-facing or rear-facing). Parents and caregivers should weigh and measure their child and refer to the car seat’s labels and manual to determine limits and whether it is appropriate for the child. If a child’s height or weight has exceeded the limit, the child has outgrown the car seat. A child has outgrown a rear-facing car seat when the top of the head is only 1 inch below the top of the car seat shell.
• • Age - a child should remain rear-facing as long as possible, or they reach the height or weight limit of the seat. It is also safest to keep a child in a five-point harness for as long as possible.
• • Developmental levels - children with special healthcare needs, such as poor head control or behavioral concerns, may benefit from staying rear-facing or riding in a five-point harness as long as possible.

How long should my child remain rear facing?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics technical package released in August 2018, all infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing child safety system as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their child safety system's manufacturer.