73
Occupant Protection
R
Air bag deployment
To do their life-saving job, air bags must
inflate rapidly and with considerable
force. There is therefore a risk of death or
serious injuries such as fractures, facial
and eye injuries or internal injuries,
particularly to occupants who are not
properly restrained by seat belts or sitting
correctly when the air bag deploys.
The risk of injury from a deploying air bag
is greatest close to the trim covering the
air bag.
The whole sequence of events from
sensing the impact to full inflation of the
bag takes place in a fraction of a second.
The noise and gas associated with the
deployment of the air bags is not injurious
to health.
After air bag deployment, it is normal to
notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This may
consist of cornstarch, talcum powder or
sodium compounds that result from the
combustion process that inflates the air
bag.
Small amounts of other chemicals may be
present which may irritate the skin and
eyes, but none of the residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to help
reduce serious injuries, it may also cause
minor burns, abrasions, swelling or
temporary hearing loss.
!
WARNING:
Safety experts recommend a minimum
distance of at least
254 mm (10 inches) between an
occupant's chest and a front air bag.
!
WARNING:
No objects whatsoever should be
attached to the centre cover of the
steering wheel, the passenger facia
panel, the sides of the front seats or the
interior trim immediately above the
door openings. Do not put anything on
or over the air bag inflation area.
Placing objects on or over the air bag
inflation area may cause those objects
to be propelled by the air bag into your
face and torso causing serious injury.
!
WARNING:
Do not try to put an adult seat belt
around two children.
!
WARNING:
Children 12 years old and younger can
be killed or seriously injured by the air
bag. The rear seat is the safest place
for children.
!
WARNING:
Several air bag system components
get hot after inflation. Do not touch
them after they have deployed.
!
WARNING:
If an air bag is inflated, the air bag will
not function again and must be
renewed immediately. If a new air bag
is not fitted, the unrepaired area will
increase the risk of injury in a collision.