TIP #6: CHILD PASSENGERS AND AIR BAGS

AN INFANT OR CHILD RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BY THE INFLATING AIR BAG (A).

• To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard very fast, faster than the blink of an eye. Many people's lives have been saved by air bags. However, the force of an air bag can hurt people who are too close to it.
  
  
• Infants in the front seat have been killed when the rear-facing child safety seat is hit with great force causing a fatal brain injury. Older children are killed from impact by the air bag because they are "out of position" - either unbuckled, or not wearing the shoulder portion of the safety belt. During pre-crash braking, the child's upper body can be thrown forward toward the air bag at the time it is triggered causing severe head or neck injuries.

PREVENT INJURIES TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM AIR BAGS BY FOLLOWING THESE SAFETY STEPS:

• Infants in rear-facing child safety seats must NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle that has a activated passenger air bag. Infants under 1 year old must ride facing the rear of the car in the back seat (B).
  
  
• Children 12 and under should ride properly restrained in the back seat. They should use child safety seats, booster seats, or safety belts appropriate for their age and size.
  
  
• Everyone should be buckled up with both lap AND shoulder belts on every trip. Driver and front passenger seats should be moved as far back from the dashboard as practical. Make sure the shoulder belt stays in place and do not lean toward the air bag compartment.
  
  
• If you must put a child riding in a forward-facing child safety seat or booster in the front, make sure the safety seat is correctly installed, the child is correctly buckled up with the harness very snug and the vehicle seat is moved as far back as possible.
  
  
• If the vehicle has side air bags, NHTSA recommends that children be properly restrained and in a proper seating position at all times. Check web site for more information.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS A FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAG.

• To check if your vehicle has air bags, look for the letters "SRS", "IRS", "SIR", "SIPS", "SIAB","IC" or the words "Air Bag" embossed on the cover of the storage compartment (C).
  
  
• Look for a warning label on the sun visor, vehicle door, safety belt or vehicle seat (C).
  

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORTS CARS

Many newer pickup trucks and sports cars have switches to shut off the passenger air bag. It is very important to turn off the air bag if there is an infant riding in the front seat in a rear-facing safety seat. If the vehicle seat cannot be moved back for an older child using a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt, then the air bag should be turned off. If there is no rear seat and no air bag shut-off switch, a rear-facing infant must NOT ride in the vehicle.

OBTAINING AN AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH

For more information, contact the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) or www.nhtsa.dot.gov Illustrations from Indiana University School of Medicine