What to Know About Air Bags?

Air bags are an important safety feature in cars that can save lives, but they can also be dangerous if they are not used properly.

Here are some important things to know about air bags:

* Air bags inflate rapidly with great force. They can cause injuries if they hit you in the face or neck, or if you are too close to them when they inflate.

* Air bags only protect the people who are properly seated and buckled up. If you are not wearing your seat belt, you will not be protected by an air bag.

* Air bags are not a substitute for seat belts. Seat belts help to keep you in your seat during a crash, reducing your risk of being ejected from the vehicle. Air bags help to protect you from injury if you are in a crash, but they cannot work if you are not wearing your seat belt.

* Children should ride in the back seat of the car until they are at least 12 years old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. This is because the air bags in the front seat can be dangerous for children.

* If you are involved in a crash, be sure to seek medical attention even if you do not feel injured. Air bags can cause internal injuries that may not be immediately apparent.

By following these safety tips, you can help to reduce your risk of injury in a car crash.

Additional tips:

* Make sure that the air bags in your car are properly inflated. You can check this by looking at the air bag indicator light on your dashboard. If the light is on, it means that the air bags are not inflated properly and you should have your car serviced.

* If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about how to position yourself in the car and use your seat belt to prevent injury to yourself and your baby.

* If you have any questions about air bags, be sure to ask your car dealer or mechanic.