1997 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual - Page 36

What makes an air bag inflate? In an impact of sufficient severity, theair bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing system triggers a release of from the inflator, which gas inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related hardware are all part ofthe air bag modules inside the steering wheel andin the instrument panel in front of the right front passenger, What will you see after an bag inflates? air After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may noteven realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in the steering wheel hubfor the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag, will be hot for a short time.The parts of the bag thatcome into contact with you may be warm, not too hot to but touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. bag inflation doesn't Air prevent the driverfrom seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nordoes it stop people from leaving the vehicle. How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steeringwheel or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute theforce of the impact more evenlyover 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 asupplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. When an air bag inflates, there dust in the air. is This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history asthma or other of breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safedo so. to If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh airby opening a window or door. 1-24