Supplemental Restraint Systems

South Stokes High School1100 South Stokes High Drive

Walnut Cove NC, 27052

Front air bags have saved 13,967 lives between 1987 and 2003 NTSHA (National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration)

Air bag basics

Air bags are supplemental restraints and are designed to work in combination with safety belts.

Both frontal and side-impact air bags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes

Air bag basics

A "moderate or severe" crash Is a crash equivalent to hitting a

solid, fixed barrier at 8 to 14 mph or higher.

This would also be equivalent to striking a parked car of similar size at about 16 to 28 mph or higher.

Air bag basics An igniter in the inflator starts a chemical

reaction that produces a gas (nitrogen or argon) that fully inflates the air bag in less than 1/20th of a second.

Because air bags deploy very rapidly, serious or sometimes fatal injuries can occur if the occupant is too close to, or is in direct contact with, the air bag when it first begins to deploy NOTE: nitrogen and argon is harmless

Most system use 3 crash sensors.

When 2 crash sensor close an electrical current is sent to the inflator module.

The air bag system ignites a solid propellant, which burns extremely rapidly to create a large volume of nitrogen gas to inflate the bag.

NOTE: Air bags works similar to a solid rocket booster

Air bag basics

Nontoxic cornstarch or talcum powder is often used to aid air bag deployment. It is the "smoke" you may have seen released into a vehicle's interior in demonstrations.

Talcum power and cornstarch can cause some skin irritation in some people.

Law and Air Bags Front Air bag are required by federal

law on all vehicle produced after1998. For information on deactivating an air

bag check: http://dms.dot.gov (docket #3111)

Certain identifiable groups can get authorization to deactivate air bags. Small children Elderly Certain medical condition

Occupants

Air bags reduce the chance that an occupant's upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash.

To avoid an air bag-related injury, always ensure proper seating position.

Read your owner's manual for specific information about the air bags in yourvehicle.

Occupants

All occupants should be properly restrained with either a safety belt or the proper child safety restraint, whether or not the vehicle has air bags.

Serious or even fatal air bag-related injuries can occur if occupants are not properly restrained and in a proper seating position.

Occupants Unrestrained or improperly restrained

occupants will move forward during the hard braking before a crash.

In addition to striking the interior of the vehicle, these occupants are very likely to be on top of the air bag as it begins to inflate.

Occupants For properly restrained occupants, most

air bag injuries are minor cuts, bruises or abrasions and are far less serious than the head trauma injuries that air bags can prevent.

All occupants, should maintain at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the center of the steering wheel.

Children

Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with an active front passenger air bag.

To minimize injury risks, NHTSA recommends that children not lean or rest against chest-only or head/chest combination side air bags

Children

If small children must ride in the front seat the front air bags switch should be turned off.

Move the seat as far back as possible

Ensure children are properly restrained according to age and size

Air Bag Quiz

1. Children 8 to12 years should ride: A. In the front seat properly

restrained B. In a child safety seat C. In the back seat properly

restrained D. Without safety belts

Air Bag Quiz

2. How far should occupants set from an air bag? A. 18 inches B. 24 inches C. 10 inches D. 6 inches

Air Bag Quiz

3. How fast is a moderate to Sevier crash?A. 24-30 mphB. Above 30 mphC. 18-22 mph

D. 8- 14 mph

Air Bag Quiz

4. How fast will an air bag deploy? A. 1/20 second B. 1/30 second C. ½ second D. 1 second

Air Bag Quiz

5. You can find specific information about the air bags in your vehicle. A. Glove box B. Owner manual C. Engine compartment D. Specification manual

Air Bag Quiz

6. When should small children be placed in the front seat facing backward? A. When on a long trip B. When driving under 30 MPH C. When air bag is activated D. Never

Air Bag Quiz

7. Unrestrained or improperly restrained occupants will move __________ during a crash. A. Backward B. Down C. Forward D. Up

Air Bag Quiz

8. Technician A says the smoke that is seen after an airbag deployment is Hazardous. Technician B says the smoke seen after an air bag deployment is the results of cornstarch and talcum powder. Who is correct? A. Technician A only B. Technician B only C. Both A and B Neither A nor B