forwar
d durin g a collision , a n inflatin g airba g
ca n strik e th e chil d an d possibl y caus e seriou s
o r fata l injuries .
I f a smal l chil d absolutel y mus t rid e i n th e
front , t o reduc e th e ris k o f injur y b e sur e t o
mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s
possible , secur e th e chil d sea t t o th e vehicl e
wit h th e sea t belt , an d stra p th e chil d i n th e
chil d sea t accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions .
W e als o recommen d tha t childre n wh o
hav e outgrow n chil d seat s si t i n th e bac k sea t
an d wea r a lap/shoulde r belt . I f a chil d
slouches , scoot s forwar d o n th e seat , lean s forward
, turn s sideway s o r put s thei r fee t u p
o n th e bac k o f th e sea t i n fron t o f them , thei r
chanc e o f bein g injure d i n an y kin d o f cras h
i s greatl y increased .
I n addition , i f a chil d i s ou t o f positio n i n
th e fron t seat , th e chil d coul d b e seriousl y o r
fatall y injure d i f the y ar e struc k b y a n
inflatin g airbag . I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n
th e front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
possible , hav e th e chil d si t u p straigh t wit h
thei r bac k agains t th e seat , an d mak e sur e th e
sea t bel t i s properl y an d securel y fastened .
With
or without airbags, toddlers and
larger children are safer when they are
properly restrained in the back seat.
abrasion
s o r bruises . Dependin g o n th e angl e
o f impac t an d othe r factors , yo u ca n als o ge t
bumps , cuts , o r eve n broke n bone s fro m
strikin g th e windshiel d o r othe r vehicl e parts .
O f course , ver y sever e collision s ca n
caus e mor e seriou s injuries , includin g fata l
injuries—eve n whe n sea t belt s ar e properl y
wor n an d th e airbag s deploy .
After
an airbag deploys, there is smoke in the
air. Is this harmful?
Th e smok e o r powde r yo u ma y se e i s no t
harmfu l t o mos t people . However , peopl e
wit h breathin g problem s ma y experienc e som e
respirator y distress . I f thi s i s th e case , ge t ou t
o f th e car , o r ope n th e window s o r doors , a s
soo n a s i t i s saf e t o d o so .
Can
an airbag be used more than once?
Airbag s ar e designe d fo r one-tim e us e only .
I n a collisio n wit h multipl e impacts , th e
airbag s wil l deplo y onl y durin g th e firs t
sever e fronta l impact . Afte r airbag s deploy ,
th e bag s an d associate d part s mus t b e
replaced . An y sea t belt s wor n wil l als o
nee d t o b e replaced .
