Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operator's Manual page 40

Occupant safety
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abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, we strongly
recommend that you inform the subsequent
owner that the vehicle is equipped with SRS.
Also refer them to the applicable section in
the Operator's Manual.
Air bags
Important safety notes
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Warning
Air bags are designed to reduce the incidence
of injuries and fatalities in certain situations:
frontal impacts (driver's and front-
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passenger front air bags)
side impacts (side impact air bags and
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window curtain air bags)
rollover (window curtain air bags)
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However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
When the air bags are deployed, a small
amount of powder is released. The powder
generally does not constitute a health hazard
and does not indicate that there is a fire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential
breathing difficulties, you should leave the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the airbag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening a window or
door.
G
Warning
To reduce the risk of injury when the front air
bags inflate, it is very important for the driver
and co-driver to always be in a properly seated
position and to wear their respective seat
belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the seat backrest.
Fasten your seat belt and make sure it is
properly positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you at a safe
distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
not wearing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be
seriously injured or killed by an air bag as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
Sit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
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position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
Move the driver's seat as far back as
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possible, still permitting proper operation
of vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the center of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm) or more.
You should be able to accomplish this by
adjusting the seat and steering wheel. If
you have any difficulties, please contact an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Do not lean your head or chest close to the
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steering wheel or instrument panel.
Keep hands on the outside of the steering
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wheel rim. Placing hands and arms inside
the rim can increase the risk and potential
severity of hand/arm injury when the driver
front air bag inflates.
Move the co-driver's seat as far as possible
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away from the instrument panel when the
seat is occupied.
Occupants, especially children, should
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never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door where the side
impact air bag inflates. This could result in
serious injuries or death should the side
impact air bag be deployed. Always sit as
upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or