1998 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 44

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheelor 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 frontal near-frontal collisions. or I /A CAUTION: When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma other or breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out soon as it is safe to doso. 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 door. or Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they inflate, you'll need some new parts your air bag for system. If you don't get them, the air bag system won't be there to 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. Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which records information about the air bag system.The module records information about the readiness of the system, when the sensors are activated and driver's safety belt usage at deployment. What will you see after air bag inflates? an After an air bag inflates,it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the air bag inflated. Some components 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 fora 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 some 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 steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 1-30