About home => Our Services => car seats

Infant Car Seat Rentals
Whether you are a new parent, an aunt or uncle who receives occasional visits from children, or grandparents preparing for vacation with the grandkids, you may find yourself renting a child car seat from the Co-op. The program, which started in 1975 with five seats, has grown to a fleet that now includes one hundred seats in sizes for preemies, infants, toddlers, and young children. rental details
Why Use a Car Seat? A safety seat can make a significant positive difference to a child’s health in case of an accident. A properly fitted and installed seat benefits the child passenger by reducing the force of the crash, increasing the likelihood of surviving the accident, and reducing the rate of injury. Government statistics show that when car seats are used properly, they are 71% effective in reducing deaths for infants in car accidents. However, statistics also indicate that the rate of misuse is high. Dynamics of a Crash To fully appreciate the need for a safety seat or restraint system, one needs to understand the amount of force that a person encounters in a car crash. That force is calculated according to the formula: weight of person x speed before crash = force of crash in pounds. Example: child weighing 100 pounds in a car that is traveling 30 miles per hour on impact will receive 3,000 pounds of force. This is a tremendous amount of weight for the body to absorb in a fraction of a second. How Restraint Systems Work Restraint systems, such as safety seats for children or seat belts for adults, protect passengers in five ways: 1. Prevent ejection from the vehicle. In the vast majority of accidents, car occupants are safer inside the car than outside of it. Though some people fear being trapped in a burning car or one that is submerged in water, statistics show that less that half of one percent of car accidents involve fire or water. In the unlikely situation that such an accident occurs, restraint systems increase the likelihood that passengers will remain conscious, uninjured, and more able to escape to safety. 2. Contact the body at the strongest parts of its structure. Restraint systems are designed to hold the body where it is the strongest, such as at the shoulders and across the hips. 3. Spread the forces of the crash over a wide area of the body, which, in turn, puts less stress on any one part. 4. Allow the body to "ride down" the crash or adjust more gradually to the abrupt change in speed. Passengers in a car accident continue to move in the vehicle at its pre-crash speed until they hit something. That "something" can be a windshield, or it can be the more flexible restraint system. The safety straps on child restraint systems or seatbelts for adults are designed with some "give" to them. The "give" softens the abrupt force of the impact while, at the same time, the straps hold the passenger in place. 5. Protect head and spinal cord from injury. Head and spinal injuries are devastating to victims and survivors alike. Protecting these complex parts of the body is crucial to reducing injury. Types of Seats and How to Select One Given all that is riding on a car seat (excuse the pun), one may wonder what brand or what features make the safest seat. To find out what is best for you, consider these three factors: the size of the child, the seat’s compatibility with your vehicle, and what you can afford to spend. Whatever model you choose, it is essential that the seat be the proper size for the child. (The Co-op rental program or the manufacturer’s instructions can provide this information.) Make sure that the seat is compatible with the hardware in the vehicle in which it will be used. Whether you are renting a seat from the Co-op or purchasing one from a store, take it out to your vehicle to make sure that it fits. A car seat that cannot be properly installed is not going to protect your child. As for cost, the price for car seats ranges from $25 to $200. But price alone does not dictate safety. Avoid the use of "after market" products, or add-ons, such as infant head positioning pads or plastic toys to dangle in front of the child’s face, or a variety of devices designed to make seat belts fit children. While the packaging may claim that these products meet federal safety standards, the fact is that no standards exist! Such items may actually pose a threat to the child’s safety. Rolled towels placed on the side of a newborn’s body are a safer alternative than manufactured positioning pads. Many of the fitting devices raise the lap belt higher than it should be, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries. Plastic toys which, on impact, could become sharp objects near the child’s face should be avoided as well.
Rental Details The Co-op rents car seats to its members and to the wider community seven days a week. For more information, contact the Information Desk at the Hanover (ext.3128) or the Lebanon (ext. 3428) Co-op Food Store. To schedule a Child Passenger Safety Check, call Lisa Kendall at (603) 643-2667 ext. 3400. Premie Seats (Premature infants) Rental Period: Up to 4 months Infant Seats (Babies up to 20 lbs and 1 year of age) Rental Period: up to 10 months Charge: $10.00 member $15.00 non-member Toddler Seats (Toddlers 20 lb and 1 year of age to 40 lbs.) Rental Period: Up to 4 Weeks Booster Seats (Toddlers 40 to 80 lbs.) Rental Period: Up to 4 Weeks Charge Deposit: $10.00 member $15.00 non-member Minimum Charge: $5.00 member $10.00 non-member Video: "Don’t Risk Your Child’s Life" Rental Period: 3 days Cost: $10.00 deposit, Fully refundable when video is returned on time. About home => Our Services => car seats