The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Fire Department offers free child safety seat inspections

Update - October 2024: The Fire Department no longer provides child safety seat inspections. The Illinois Secretary of State has information on its website regarding child safety seat requirements and links for inspection providers. Click here for more information.

The best child safety seat is the one that correctly fits the child and the vehicle, and is used correctly every time. That’s why the Oak Park Fire Department has child safety seat technicians available to check your seat for safety and proper installation. To schedule a safety inspection, just email carseat@oak-park.us. Requests for appointments typically are followed up within 48 hours. Parents will need to bring their vehicle owner’s manual and car seat manufacturer’s manual along with the seat they wish to have inspected. Residents are asked not to come to the Fire Department for an inspection without an appointment — as on-call firefighter/paramedics, the technicians may not be available.

Common child car seat errors

  • Turning seat forward facing too soon
  • Not adjusting harness snugly
  • Not securing seat properly in vehicle
  • Not using lower anchors/latch system properly
  • Not using top tether on forward-facing seat
  • Forgetting to register car seat for recall notifications
  • Moving to next size car seat or booster seat too soon