1995 GMC Sonoma Owner's Manual - Page 29

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel. The air bag supplements 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 and rear and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward the air bag. Air bags should never be regarded as anything morethan a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severefrontal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air bag inflates? After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some componentsof the air bag module in the steering wheel hub will be hot for a short time, but the part of the bag that comes into contactwith you will not be hot to the touch. There will be some smokeand dust coming fromvents in the deflated air bag. Air bag inflation will not prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, will it stop people from leaving the nor vehicle. A CAUTION: When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or To other breathing trouble. avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out soon as it is safe todo so. If you have breathing as of an problems but can't get out the vehicle after air bag inflates, then get freshair by opening a window or door. The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it inflates, you'll need 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 the air bag module and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. 1-19