2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 26

26 Safety Are the smoke and fumes given off when the airbag operates at all harmful? Most people who have remained in a car with little or no ventilation for several minutes complained only of minor irritation of the throat and eyes. Avoid as far as possible getting dust on your skin as there is a risk of skin irritation. If this trouble persists, you should consult a doctor. If you suffer from asthma, the incident may bring on an attack, in which case you should follow the normal procedure advised by your doctor. It is advisable to consult a doctor afterwards. What should I do if the AIR-BAG warning light comes on? If the warning light is on, it means that a fault has been detected in the system. The airbag cannot be relied on to operate as intended and it might even be activated erroneously. You should therefore take the car to an authorized Saab dealer as soon as possible. How loud is the inflation? The noise of the inflation is certainly loud, but it is very short-lived and will not damage your hearing. For a short time afterwards you could experience a buzzing noise in your ears. Most people who have experienced it cannot remember the noise of the inflation at all - all they remember is the noise of the crash. Can you still use a child seat in the front if a passenger airbag is installed? Definitely not! Children 12 and under can be injured or killed by the airbag. The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children. NEVER put a child seat in the front. WARNING When an airbag is inflated there is dust in the air. Because the dust/smoke can, in certain cases, cause irritation to the skin, the following precautions should be taken: • As soon as possible, wash any exposed skin using a mild soap and water. • If there is irritation of the eyes, flush them liberally with clean water for at least 20 minutes.