Did you know that the use of seat belts and car seats is noted as saving over a million lives and widely considered one of the most cost-effective public health interventions? It’s true! And that’s why ensuring all families in Essex County have properly fitting car seats is at the heart of our injury prevention program.
Essex County Health Department has certified car seat technicians who can check to see if your child’s car seat is installed properly and securely. This service is available to everyone regardless of income!
Car seats are also available at no cost to low-income and other qualifying families that meet criteria after a car seat fitting. To schedule an appointment or for further questions call (518) 873-3500.
Visit our Family Health Page to learn about all of our family programs.
NYS Law by Ages
Child seats (restraints) are not an option, they are the law in NYS.
For our entire Injury Prevention Program & Family Health Programs
0-3:Â Every child ages 0-3 must be properly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat that is attached to a vehicle by a safety belt or universal child restraint anchorage (LATCH) system. Â A child under age four who weighs more than 40 pounds may be restrained in a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.
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An appropriate child safety restraint system:
- Is required for all children until their 8th birthday and,
- Must meet the size and weight requirements for the child based on the Federal requirements and the recommendations of the manufacturer, and
- Can be a child safety seat, a harness, a vest or a booster seat attached with the vehicle seat belt or latch system, but not the vehicle seat belt alone, and
- Should not be used in the front seat of the vehicle.
A booster seat can be used only with a lap and shoulder belt together.
If all the combination lap and shoulder belt positions in the vehicle are already occupied by children using child safety seats or booster seats, a child who ordinarily would use a booster seat should be restrained using only the lap belt.
4-7:Â Every child of age 4, 5, 6 or 7, must use a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt or a child safety seat. Â The child and safety restraint system must meet the height and weight recommendations of the restraint manufacturer.
8: If the child is 8 years old and is under 4’9″ tall or weighs less than 100 lbs, it is recommended that you continue to use a child restraint system.
<12: For maximum protection, children under the age of 12 should sit in the rear seat of the vehicle.
New York State now requires all passengers to buckle up regardless of where they sit in the vehicle or age– including drivers and all passengers.
Additional Resources
Bike Helmets – We are a member of Safe Kids Adirondack, a network of community based organizations targeting youth safety in Essex and Clinton Counties.  Through this network we offer bike/multi-sport helmets to youth.  Call (518) 873-3500 for more information.
Senior Health & Fall Prevention – We conduct outreach on senior health and fall prevention with senior nutrition site participants.
Upstate NY Poison Center
24 hours a day? 365 days a year –Â available to both health care professionals and the general public.
- Poison Emergency Telephone Management
- Poison Information Resources
- Public Education
- Professional Education
- Research and Data Collection
Every caller receives professional expert service.
- Calls are answered by Specialists in Poison Information (SPIs), registered nurses and pharmacists trained in toxicology
- Specialists provide the most efficient and up-to-date poison information available
- Physicians and toxicologists are on-call 24 hours a day for consultation purposes
- Other specialists are available for consultation
Our Required Activities
 ✅ As a local health department we must conduct an injury prevention program that promotes public awareness, community education, and other prevention-focused best-practices.