Mercedes-Benz S 600 Operator's Manual page 55

The activation of the "SRS"
temporarily releases a small amount
of dust from the airbags. This dust,
however, is neither injurious to your
health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle.
The service life of the airbags extends
to the date indicated on the label
located on the driver-side door latch
post. To provide continued reliability
after that date, they should be
inspected by an authorized Mercedes-
Benz dealer at that time and replaced
when necessary.
Warning!
It is very important for your safety to
always be in a properly seated position
and to wear your seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event
of a collision always be in normal
seated position with your back against
the seat back. Fasten your seat belt
and ensure that it is properly
positioned on the body.
Since the airbag inflates with
considerable speed and force, a
proper seating and hands on steering
wheel position will help to keep you
in a safe distance from the airbag:
• Sit properly belted in an upright
position with your back against
the seat back.
• Adjust the driver seat as far as
possible rearward, still permitting
proper operation of vehicle
controls.
• Do not lean with your head or
chest close to the steering wheel
or dashboard.
• Keep hands on the outside of
steering wheel rim. Placing hands
and arms inside the rim can
increase the risk and potential
severity of hand/arm injury when
airbag inflates.
• Adjust the front passenger seat
rearward as far as possible from
the dashboard when the seat is
occupied.
• Children 12 years old and under
must never ride in the front seat,
except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart™
compatible child seat, which
operates with the BabySmart™
system installed in the vehicle to
deactivate the passenger side
front airbag when it is properly
installed. Otherwise they will be
struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens,
serious or fatal injury will result.
Failure to follow these instructions
can result in severe injuries to you or
other occupants.
55