Toyota Solara Operating Manual page 53

In a severe side impact, the side airbag
sensor triggers the side airbag inflators.
Then a chemical reaction in the inflators
quickly fills the airbags with non- toxic gas
to help restrain the lateral motion of the
occupants.
When the airbags inflate, they produce a
fairly loud noise and release some smoke
and residue along with non- toxic gas. This
does not indicate a fire. This gas is nor-
mally harmless; however, for those who
have delicate skin, it may cause a minor
skin irritation. Be sure to wash off any
residue as soon as possible to prevent
any potential skin irritation.
Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious inju-
ries, it may also cause minor burns or
abrasions and swelling.
Front seats may be hot for several min-
utes, but the airbags themselves will not
be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.
SOLARA_U
CAUTION
"
The SRS side airbag system is de-
signed only as a supplement to the
primary protection of the
side and front passenger side seat
belt systems. To ensure maximum
protection in an accident, the driver
and all passengers in the vehicle
must wear their seat belts. Wearing
a seat belt during an accident re-
duces the chances of death or seri-
ous injury or being thrown out of
the vehicle. For instructions and
precautions concerning the
belt system, see "Seat belts" in this
section
"
Improperly seated and/or restrained
infants and children can be killed
or seriously injured by a deploying
airbag. An infant or child who is
driver too small to use a seat belt should
be properly secured using a child
restraint system.
recommends that all
children be placed in the rear seat
of the vehicle and
strained. The rear seat is the safest
for infants and children. For in-
structions concerning the installa-
tion of a child restraint system, see
seat "Child restraint" in this section.
"
Do not allow a child to lean his/her
head or any part of his/her body
against the front door or the area
of the seat from which the side air-
bag deploys even
seated in the child restraint system.
It is dangerous if the side airbag
inflates, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.
For instructions
installation of a child restraint sys-
tem, see "Child restraint" in this
section.
Toyota strongly
infants and
properly re-
if he/she is
concerning the
53