Air Bags; Important Safety Notes - Mercedes-Benz G-Class Operator's Manual

Air bags

Important safety notes

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WARNING
Air bags are designed to reduce the potential
of injury and fatality in certain
frontal impacts (front air bags)
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side impacts (window curtain air bags)
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However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
Deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust, however, is neither harmful
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle. The dust might cause some
temporary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of 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 air bag 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 front passenger 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.
Occupant safety
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 Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not lean your head or chest close to the
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steering wheel or dashboard.
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.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
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possible rearward from the dashboard
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 window
curtain air bag inflates. This could result in
serious injuries or death should the window
curtain 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
booster seat recommended for the size and
weight of the child.
Children 12 years old and under must never
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ride in the front seat, except in a Mercedes-
Benz authorized BabySmart™ compatible
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