2006 Saab 9-5 Owner's Manual - Page 30

30 Safety • Always sit with the whole of your back in contact with the backrest of the seat, and with your seat as far back as is practical. Otherwise you will be thrown back against the backrest when the airbag inflates which could cause you injury or death. The airbag needs room in which to inflate. • Never attach anything to the steering wheel or passenger side of the instrument panel, as this could result in injury if the airbag should inflate. The same applies to anything you might have in your mouth, such as a pipe, for instance. • Some components of the airbag will be warm for a short time. In some circumstances the airbag can cause minor burns or abrasions to the body when the airbag inflates/deflates. • To reduce the risk of head injuries in the event of a crash, the headliner and pillar trims incorporate energy absorbing material. These areas must not be modified in any way. Work on these areas must only be carried out by an authorized Saab dealer. • Fumes are generated by the chemical reaction that inflates the airbag. Because the dust/fumes can, in certain cases, cause irritation to the skin, the following measures should be taken: Skin surfaces that show signs of irritation should be washed with clean water and a mild soap as soon as possible. In the event of eye irritation, flush the eyes thoroughly with clean water for at least 20 minutes. In case of persistent irritation, consult a doctor. • Never rest your hands or forearms on the steering-wheel center padding. • If the AIR BAG warning light does not extinguish after the car has been started, or comes on or flashes while driving, have the car checked immediately by a workshop. We recommend that you contact an authorized Saab dealer. The warning light could signify that the airbags may not inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate without a crash. See page 61. Passenger airbag and driver's airbag both inflated WARNING • Even if the car is equipped with AIRBAG, safety belts must still always be worn by all occupants. • Note that because an airbag inflates and deflates extremely rapidly, it will not provide protection against a second impact occurring in the same incident. Always use your safety belt. IB420