How Your Side Airbags Work - Honda 2007 Civic Hatchback Owner's Manual

The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.
After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid acceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate
either the driver's or the passenger's
side airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger's side, the passenger's
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
If a front seat passenger leans
sideways and his head is in the
deployment path of the side airbag,
he can be seriously injured by an
inflating side airbag. An inflating
side airbag can strike the child with
enough force to kill or very seriously
injure a child. For the information of
the side airbags hazards, see pages
38 and 60 .
Driver and Passenger Safety
29