1999 Toyota Solara Owners Manual - Page 53

SOLARA_U In a severe side impact, the side airbag sensor triggers the side airbag inflators. Then a chemical reaction in the inflators momentarily fills the airbags with non- toxic gas to help restrain the lateral motion of the occupants. When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and release some smoke and residue along with non- toxic gas. This does not indicate a fire. This gas is normally harmless, however, for those who have delicate skin, it may cause minor skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent minor skin irritation. Deployment of the airbags happens in a fraction of a second, so the airbags must inflate with considerable force. While the system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also cause minor burns or abrasions and swellings. Front seats may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate only once. CAUTION D Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small to use a seat belt should be properly secured using a child restraint system. Toyota strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in the rear seat of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seat is the safest for infants and children. For instructions concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see "Child restraint" in this chapter. D The SRS side airbag system is designed only as a supplement to the primary protection of the driver side and front passenger side seat belt systems. The front seat occupants can be killed or seriously injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear the available seat belts. During sudden braking just before a collision, an unrestrained driver or front passenger can move sideward into direct contact with or close proximity to the airbag which may then deploy during the collision. To obtain maximum protection in an accident, the driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts. Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the chances of death or serious injuries or being thrown out of the vehicle. For instructions and precautions concerning the seat belt system, see "Seat belts" in this chapter. D Do not allow the child to lean against the front door or around the front door even if the child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side airbag inflates and the impact could cause death or serious injury to the child. For instructors concerning the installation of a child restraint system, see "Child restraint" in this chapter. 53