1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Owner's Manual - Page 32

What makes an air bag inflate? What will you see 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 system detects thatthe vehicle isin a crash. The sensing inflated. Some components of the air bag module -- the system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which steering wheelhub for the driver's air bag, or the inflates the air bag.The inflator, air bag and related -instrument panelfor the right front passenger's bag hardware areall part of the air bag modules inside the will be hotfor a short time. The parts of the bag that steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the come into contact with you may be warm, but not too right front passenger. hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming How doesan air bag restrain? from vents inthe deflated air bags. Air bag inflation In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, doesn't preventthe driver from seeing orfrom being even belted occupantscan contact the steering wheel or able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop peoplefrom the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection leaving the vehicle. 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, When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. primarily becausean occupant's motion is not toward This dust could cause breathing problems for those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as people with a history of asthma or other anything more than a supplement to safety belts, breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. is safe to do so. vehicle should get out as soon it as If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window door. or In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing 1-25