1998 Chevrolet Camaro 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 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. Butr bags would a i 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 bags. Air air bags should never be regarded as anythmg more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only moderate to in severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. What will you see after an air inflates? bag 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 the driver's air bag,or the for instrument panelfor the rightfront passenger's bag -- will be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you may warm, but not be too hot to touch.There will be some smoke anddust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't preventthe driver from seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leavingthe vehicle. When an airbag inflates,there is dust in the ai This dust could causebreathing problems for people with a history asthma or other of breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safeto do so. If you havebreathing problems but can't getout of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. 1-24