Child Passenger Safety Seats

Complete a Child Passenger Safety Program Application and submit it to our office and make a personal appointment. You may submit the completed application any of the following ways:

• Submit an online car seat application.
• Print a hard copy to complete manually and deliver in-person, mail or fax to 419-468-8618.
  • If you have PDF editing capabilities, feel free to complete the form digitally and return a copy to us in any of the above manners.
  • Both the physical location and mailing address are Galion City Health Department, 113 Harding Way E, Galion, OH 44833.

• The child’s parent and/or guardian MUST attend an instruction session lasting approximately 30 minutes.
• The child must weigh 5–65 lbs. to receive the convertible seat and must be at least 4 years of age and 40 pounds to receive the booster seat.
• The parent and/or guardian must provide proof of pregnancy or be in the third trimester.
• The child must be a resident of Crawford County.
• The applicant must meet WIC/Medicaid income requirements.

Birth – 12 Months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 Years
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both have recommended to keep children rear-facing until after age 2 and as long as possible. Rear facing is the safest position for your child in frontal, side and rear impact collisions.

Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4 – 7 Years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 Years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Ohio’s Child Passenger Safety Law states that every child under 8 years old must ride in a booster seat or other appropriate child safety seat unless the child is 4’9” or taller.

For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.

Rear-Facing Car Seat
Is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord.

Forward-Facing Car Seat
Has a harness and tether that limits your child’s forward movement during a crash.

Booster Seat
Positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body.

Seat Belt
Should lie across the upper thighs and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.