Special to the Telegraph
Bradford County families now have access to a vital free service aimed at keeping children safer on the road, thanks to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and a dedicated Animal Control Officer who went the extra mile to help the community.
Christy Milligan recently completed an intensive four-day training focused on car seat safety. The training certifies her to inspect car seats, identify installation issues, and answer questions from caregivers. With this new certification, Milligan is bringing her knowledge back to the local community through free car seat check events.
These events give parents and caregivers the opportunity to have their car seats professionally inspected to ensure they are properly installed and meet current safety guidelines. Attendees can also get answers to their car seat questions—all free of charge.
“There are a lot of things that are not commonly known about car seat safety,” Milligan said.
For example, by law, any car seat involved in a car accident must be replaced, even if no visible damage is present. Additionally, using a secondhand car seat can be risky since its history is often unknown. It may have been in a previous crash or could be expired, damaged, or missing key parts—making it unsafe for future use.
The initiative is possible thanks to an Occupant Safety Grant awarded to the sheriff’s office, according to Sgt. Glenn Ward.
“We got an occupant safety grant,” Ward explained. “I think we got $50,000 in grant money from the state to get all that, so it’s worked out well.”
The funding not only covered Milligan’s training but also supported the organization of recurring community events. It may also allow the agency to offer discounted new car seats in the future for families in need.
“We’re going to start trying to hold them every few weeks in different locations to get people to come in and get their car seats checked,” Ward said. “Because if a car seat isn’t right, a child can get hurt, and a lot of people don’t know how to do it.”
The goal of the program is education and prevention, not enforcement. “It’s a free service. We’re not looking to ticket anybody. We’re not looking for any of that. We’re just looking for the kids to be safe,” Ward emphasized.
To make the events as accessible as possible, the sheriff’s office plans to rotate locations throughout the county.
“We’re going to move around the county to make it accessible to everybody,” Ward said.
The next car seat check event—with a fun twist—is scheduled for Friday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Dunkin’ Donuts.
Called “Coffee, Car Seats, and Cats,” the event is a partnership with Bradford County Animal Services, who will be on-site with cats available for adoption.
It’s an opportunity for families to enjoy a cup of coffee, ensure their children’s car seats are installed correctly, and even meet a furry friend who may be ready for a forever home.
The Sheriff’s Office hopes to continue these events twice a month, ensuring families throughout the area can take advantage of the safety checks. With warmer weather and summer travel approaching, now is the perfect time for caregivers to ensure their children’s car seats are up to standard.
