Side Airbags - Skoda 2011 Yeti Owner's Manual

146 Airbag system

Side airbags

Description of side airbags
The side airbag together with the head airbag offers enhanced
occupant protection in the event of a side collision.
The front side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the
front seats and are marked with the lettering "AIRBAG"
part.
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the upper area of the body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of the
occupants of the vehicle in the event of severe side collisions  page 146.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts is to also
hold the occupents of the front or rear exterior seats in a correct seated position in
the event of a side collision so as to enable the side airbag to offer the maximum
protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection.
Fig. 138 Installation position of side
airbag in driver seat
 fig. 138
on the middle
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated
side airbags.
When the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag and the belt tensioner are also
automatically deployed on the relevant side .
In certain accident situations, the front, side and head airbag are simultaneously
deployed.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with gas. The airbags inflate in fractions
of a second and at a high speed in order to be able to offer that additional protection
 fig.
in the event of an accident 139.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly
normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is reduced
on the side facing the door.
Important safety information on the side airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING

It is essential to always switch off  page 149, "Deactivating an airbag" the
front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of
travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel). If
Fig. 139 Inflated side airbag