1997 Buick Century Owner's Manual - Page 37

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. I - When an air bag i. ates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma other or breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get as soon as it is safe to do out so. If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an bag inflates, then get air fresh air by opening a window door. or What will yousee after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Somecomponents of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, orthe instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contactwith you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. Therewill be some smoke and dust comingfrom vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steerthe vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving vehicle. the In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occurfrom the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflateonly once. After they inflate, you'llneed some new parts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace otherparts. 1-23