Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Car Seat Program

The Ohio Department of Health’s child passenger safety (CPS) program, Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low income families in all Ohio counties. The overall goal of this program is to increase the availability of child safety seats for families who could not otherwise afford them and to increase correct installation and proper use of child safety seats.

Through the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) Car Seat Program, Wyandot County Public Health provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families for a nominal fee. Wyandot County Public Health's trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians also assist families with free child passenger safety checks which assists families with ensuring their children are riding in properly installed seats meeting the child's height, weight, and development level requirements.

OBB Program Requirements

To be eligible for car seats families must meet the following requirements:

Family income within WIC guidelines. Verified with one of the following:
- Paystubs for the last 30 days
- WIC card
- Medicaid card
- W2s/most recent tax transcript
- Benefits/award letter for unemployment
Resident of Wyandot County.
- Residents of other counties seeking services will be referred to their local OBB provider.
Caregiver of a child within the age, weight, and height requirements for a car seat as follows:
- Child is over 5 pounds and does not exceed the weight limits for a convertible car seat
- Child is at least 2 years old, over 22 pounds, and does not exceed height and weight limits for a convertible car seat
- Child is at least 4 years old, 40 pounds and 44 inches or more but does not exceed weight or height limits of the booster seat.
Willing to attend an educational class at the health department with a Certified Car Seat Technician.
- These classes make up the car seat appointment and teach the proper installation and use of the seat. Car seat appointments take between 30-45 minutes.

Schedule your OBB appointment

Fill out a Car Seat Request Form and email it to OBB program coordinator Callan McMillion.

To schedule your OBB appointment, please contact Wyandot County Public Health at 419-294-3852 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays. Appointments are required to ensure Certified Car Seat Technician availability.

Appointments typically take 30-45 minutes and require the family to install the car seat with at Certified Car Seat Technician. Please plan accordingly.

Can't make your appointment? If you find that you are unable to make your appointment, please call before your missed appointment to reschedule. Car seat availability is not guaranteed for no shows.

OBB appointment cost

Wyandot County Public Health asks for a donation of $20 per car seat. While the seats are free, the donation covers the car seat technician's time to ensure the program can continue to help Wyandot County families. Families who are unable to provide some or all of this donation will not be turned away.

Safety Seats

The OBB program currently offers the Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 convertible seat (rear-facing and forward-facing capable), the Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster (forward-facing and booster seat capable) and the Evenflo GoTime Sport/LX booster seat.

SureRide/Titan 65 convertible car seat requirements:

Rear-facing from 5-40 pounds, and from 19-40 inches.
- For information about how to install this seat click here.
Forward-facing from 22-65 pounds, and from 28-54 inches. (Must be at least two years old)
- For information about how to install this seat click here.

Maestro Sport Harness Booster requirements:

Approved for children at least 2 and older between 22-110 pounds.
Forward-facing use with a 5-point harness: Child must be at least 2 years old.
High back booster using vehicle belt: Child must be at least 4 years old.

GoTime Sport/LX booster requirements:

For use for children four and older who weigh between 40-120 pounds and who are 44-57 inches tall.

Car seat checks

Wyandot County Public Health offers free car seat checks for families that want to ensure their seats are properly installed. These checks are sure to be educational no matter if you're installing your first car seat for your first child or if you're a grandparent. Our certified car seat technicians will walk you through proper installation of your car seat or booster.

It is important that individuals bring both their car seat/ booster seat manual and their vehicle owner's manual to this appointment.

Appointments are available by calling 419-294-3852. Wyandot County Public Health also offers some car seat check events throughout the year. Visit @WyandotHealth on Facebook or Wyandot County Public Health's schedule on Yodel to check for upcoming car seat check events.

Additional Resources

CPS Car Seat Safety (website)

Ohio's Child Passenger Safety Laws (website)

Don't Risk Your Child's Life (video)

Children in Hot Cars (National Safety Council training)