1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 32

How does an air bag restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel the or the instrument panel. Air bags supplement protection 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 youin many types of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts andside 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 in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions. ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~ When anair bag inflates, there dust in the air. is This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone the in as vehicle should get out soon as it is safe to dosa If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or door. In many crashes severe enough inflate an air bag, to What will yousee after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some peoplemay not even realize the air bag inflated. Some componentsof the air bag module in the steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel forthe right frontpassenger'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 willbe some smokeand dust coming from vents in the deflated air bags. bag inflation doesn't Air prevent the driver from seeing or frombeing able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. 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. Afterthey 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. 1-25