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When Stephanie Tonegato turned four and outgrew her car seat, her parents got her a booster seat. Her mom says that booster seat later saved Stephanie's life in a rollover accident that killed the little girl's father.
Laurie Tonegato/ Stephanie's Mother: "THE IMPACT ACROSS HER SHOULDER BLADE THAT BROKE HER COLLARBONE WOULD HAVE BROKEN HER NECK IF SHE HAD BEEN SITTING FOUR INCHES LOWER ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR INSTEAD OF IN HER BOOSTER SEAT."
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says belt-positioning booster seats can lower a child's risk of injury by nearly 60 percent.
Dennis Durbin, M.D./ Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: "WHAT A BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT DOES IS IT POSITIONS THE CHILD SO THAT BOTH THE LAP AND THE SHOULDER PORTIONS OF THE SEAT BELT WILL FIT THE WAY THEY'RE DESIGNED TO FIT."
Dr. Dennis Durbin demonstrates with his seven-year old son, Jack.
"KNEES BENDING AT THE EDGE OF THE BOOSTER, THE GUIDE SLOTS, WHICH KEEP THE LAP PART OF THE BELT LOW ACROSS HIS HIPS AND PELVIS. AND HE'S POSITIONED UP IN THE SEAT SO THE SHOULDER PART OF THE BELT CROSSES THE MID PART OF THIS CHEST AND THE MIDDLE PART OF HIS SHOULDER."
He says belt-positioning booster seats not only reduce injury, they nearly eliminate serious injuries to the abdomen and spine caused by seat belts.
Stephanie's mom has become a booster-seat advocate since the tragic accident.
LAURIE TONEGATO: "LOVING PARENTS WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR KIDS NEED TO BE PUTTING THEIR KIDS INTO BOOSTER SEATS SO THAT THEY DON'T FIND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT THEY WERE TOO SMALL TO BE BUCKLED LIKE AN ADULT."
