Hernando mom's invention a potential lifesaver for kids

Patricia Mandarino's invention . . .

HERNANDO COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A Hernando County mother has come up with an invention that could save the lives of squirmy children.

Patricia Mandarino, whose daughter Marilyn would undo her seat belt and get out of her car seat, invented the Angel Guard to keep Marilyn and other children safely belted in.

"You're on the highway," Mandarino said. "What could you do? Your kid is running around the back seat. You're in a dangerous situation."

The Angel Guard covers the red release button on a seat belt buckle to keep children from unbuckling it. Adults can easily remove the guard when taking the child out of the seat.

According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 35 percent of children under the age of five killed in car accidents in 2006 were unrestrained.

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