1998 GMC Safari Owner's Manual - Page 54

Smaller Children and Babies (Except Cargo Vans) CAUTION: (Continued) instructions for the restraint will say whetherit is the right type and size your child. A very for young child's hip bones so small that a are regular belt might not stay onthe hips,as it low should. Instead,the belt will likely be over the child's abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force right on the child's abdomen, which could cause seriousor fatal injuries. So, be sure that any child small enough one is always properly for restrained in a child or infant restraint. Children who are up against, or very close to, any air bag whenit inflates can seriouslyinjured be or killed. This is true even if your vehicle has reduced-force frontal air bags. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young childrenand infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system its air nor bag system is designed them. Young children for and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. I I ' I Infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because infant's neck an is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant a rear-facing in restraint settles intothe restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of the infant's body, the back and shoulders.A baby should be secured ' I in an appropriate infant restraint. This is so important that many hospitals today won't releasea newborn infant to Smaller children babies should always be and its parents unless there is infant restraint available for an restrained in a child or infant restraint. The firstvehicle. motor the a baby's trip in CAUTION: (Continued) I 1-40 I