1998 Chevrolet Prizm Owner's Manual - Page 41

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. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. The air bag supplements 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. But the frontal air bags would not help you in manytypes of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motionis not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions,rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an occupant's motionis not toward those air bags. Air bags should neverbe regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags, and only inmoderate to severe side collisions for the driver's and right front passenger's side impact air bags. inflated. Some components the air bag module -- the of steering wheel hubfor the driver's air bag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag, the side the of seatback closest to the door the driver and right front for passenger's side impact air bags 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 will be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle. A CAUTION: What will yousee after an air bag inflates? After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates,so quickly that some people may not even realizethe air bag When an air bag inflates, there is dustthe air. in This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble.To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon it is safe to so. as do If you have breathing problems but can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get a fresh airby opening a window or door. 1-27