1998 Honda CR-V Owner's Manual - Page 46

Additional Information About Your SRS After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag's surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems may experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the car as soon as it is safe to do so. U.S. Owners How the Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners Work After inflating, the airbags immediately deflate, so they won't interfere with the driver's visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls. The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps. Driver and Passenger Safety For additional information on how your airbags work, see the booklet titled SRS: What You Need to Know About Airbags that came with your owner's manual. Canada Owners For additional information on how your airbags work, ask your dealer for a copy of the booklet titled SRS: What You Need to Know About Airbags. Your Honda has automatic seat belt tensioners for added protection during a severe frontal collision. If your airbags inflate, the tensioners immediately tighten the front seat belts to help hold the occupants in place. The belts will remain tight until you unbuckle them in the normal way.