Kia Soul 2015 Owner's Manual page 62

Safety features of your vehicle
• In order to help provide protection
in a severe collision, the air bags
must inflate rapidly. The speed of
air bag inflation is a consequence
of extremely short time in which a
collision occurs and the need to
get the air bag between the occu-
pant and the vehicle structures
before the occupant impacts those
structures. This speed of inflation
reduces the risk of serious or life-
threatening injuries in a severe col-
lision and is thus a necessary part
of air bag design.
However, air bag inflation can also
cause injuries which can include
facial abrasions, bruises and bro-
ken bones because the inflation
speed also causes the air bags to
expand with a great deal of force.
• There are even circumstances
under which contact with the
steering wheel air bag can cause
fatal injuries, especially if the
occupant is positioned exces-
sively close to the steering wheel.
3 44
WARNING
• To avoid severe personal
injury or death caused by
deploying air bags in a colli-
sion, the driver should sit as
far back from the steering
wheel air bag. The front pas-
senger should always move
their seat as far back as pos-
sible and sit back in their seat.
• Air bag inflates instantly in an
event of a collision, passen-
gers may be injured by the air
bag expansion force if they
are not in a proper position.
• Air bag inflation may cause
injuries including facial or
bodily abrasions, injuries from
broken glasses or burns.
Noise and smoke
When the air bags inflate, they make
a loud noise and they leave smoke
and powder in the air inside of the
vehicle. This is normal and is a result
of the ignition of the air bag inflator.
After the air bag inflates, you may
feel substantial discomfort in breath-
ing due to the contact of your chest
with both the seat belt and the air
bag, as well as from breathing the
smoke and powder. Open your
doors and/or windows as soon as
possible after impact in order to
reduce discomfort and prevent
prolonged exposure to the smoke
and powder.
Though smoke and powder are non-
toxic, it may cause irritation to the
skin (eyes, nose and throat, etc.). If
this is the case, wash and rinse with
cold water immediately and consult
the doctor if the symptom persists.