Decatur, IL (WAND) – As colder weather approaches Central Illinois, safety experts remind parents that bulky winter coats and car seats don’t mix.

Health officials have warned that placing a child in a car seat while wearing a thick, puffy coat can create a serious safety risk in the event of a crash.

“When a child is wearing a thick, puffy coat, it creates a dangerous space between the child and the harness,” said Emily O’Connell, director of health promotion and public relations at the Macon County Health Department. “In a crash, that padding will compress, then cause the straps to get too loose, which could put the child at risk for severe injury.”

That compression can mean the harness no longer fits the way it was designed to, reducing its ability to properly restrain a child during an accident.

“As parents and caregivers, we are responsible for keeping our children safe,” O’Connell said. “By removing the coat before buckling your child in, we are greatly reducing the risk of severe injury for the child and allowing that harness to work as it is designed to.”

O’Connell said there are safe alternatives that still keep children warm during winter travel. One option is dressing children in thinner layers, such as fleece, before buckling them into their car seats.

“You’re really wanting it to be a thinner material, like fleece,” O’Connell said. “Making sure that that puffiness in the coat is not going to compromise how the harness is going to work.”

Other options include using a poncho, a blanket, or placing the child’s coat on backward after they are properly secured in the seat.

For parents who want extra reassurance, the Macon County Health Department offers car seat safety checks every Wednesday without an appointment. In Champaign, the health department has a safety inspection station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. People can call 217-353-4932 to schedule an appointment.