1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner's Manual - Page 37

How does anair bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection 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, primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontalor near-frontal collisions. When an air bag inflates, thereis dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out soon as it is safe todo so. as If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh airby opening a window or door. In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger air bag. Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be thereto help protect you in another crash. A new system will include air bag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts. What will you see after an bag inflates? air After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may noteven realize the air bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in 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 maybe warm, but nottoo hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflatedair bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.