1997 Cadillac Seville Owner's Manual - Page 40

How does anair bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. or even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the proteciiort provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the forceof the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. air bags would But not help you in many types of collisions, including rollovers. rear impacts and side impacts. primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than 2 supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontai or near-frontal collisions. When an air bag inflates, there dust in the air. is for This dust could cause breathing problems people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyonein the soon as it is safe todo so. vehicle should get out as If you have breathing problems but can't out get of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air bags inflate (if battery power is available). You can lock the doors again and tun: the interior lamps off by using the door lock and interior lamp controls. In many crashes severe enough.to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur fromthe right: front passenger airbag. What will you see after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, SO quiclcly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Somecomponents of the air bag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be sorne smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn-t prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steerthe vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.