Between Life or Death: How An Airbag and A Seatbelt Save Lives - By: Alan Haburchak, Posted on: 2007-12-01

During the 1950s, the airbag was developed in order to increase safety and lessen the harmful outcome of automobile accident injuries. Since the creation of the airbag, there have been many studies that suggest fatality rates are reduced by nearly half in those that have vehicles with built-in airbags.

Airbags help prevent an occupant's head from striking some part of the inside of the vehicle, and help distribute crash forces more evenly across the victim's body. However, their rapid deployment can cause injuries or death.

After an impact, it takes only 1/20 of a second for an airbag to inflate and each bag is filled with gas. The first crash-sensing detector was introduced in the late 1960s, leading to airbag systems where the sensor or accelerometer triggers ignition of a gas generator to rapidly inflate the bag. The bag then absorbs some of the deceleration forces experienced when the occupant collides with and collapses it while the gas escapes through small vent holes during the next 3/10 of a second.

In the 1970s, Ford, GM and Chrysler offered airbags in select cars as a seatbelt replacement, and they became more common in the 1980s. In 1984, the U.S. government required all cars produced after April 1, 1989 to have driver's side air bags, and in 1998, dual front airbags were mandated (1999 for light trucks). De-powered, second-generation airbags were required, because first-generation airbags designed for occupants not wearing seatbelts were causing injuries. Advances continue to improve airbag performance.

Today, many cars have additional airbags designed to protect occupants' heads, protect from side impact, and protect passengers in the back seat. Various manufacturers have called their products Supplementary/Secondary Restraint Systems (SRS), Air Cushion Restraint Systems (ACRS) or Supplemental Inflatable Restraints (SIR).

Why wear a safety belt? It's important to wear a safety belt, even when in a vehicle equipped with air bags. Those not wearing seatbelts may slide or be thrown forward against the airbag module, and be seriously injured or killed if the airbag deploys. Most air bags only inflate once, and do not provide protection past an initial impact. Standard front-impact air bags do not deploy for side or rear impact crashes, or rollovers. Seat belts reduce risk in many types of crashes, keep occupants in the position where they receive the most benefit from the air bag, and protect against multiple collisions, or collisions where the air bags are not triggered. Various other safety factors besides the airbag include what? Injuries and deaths associated with airbag deployment follow several trends. First is the presence of first-generation airbags. Later-generation, multi-stage bags deploy more slowly, and with less force, and better respond to crash forces and occupant size. Improved technology and education helped reduce airbag-related fatalities from 1996 to 2000 by more than 90 percent for children and by 60 percent for adults.

Still, people suffer abrasions, hearing damage from the explosive deployment, head injuries, eye damage (while wearing glasses), and broken noses, fingers, hands or arms. Additionally, items protruding from the mouth can cause harm including food items and smoking tobacco products. ' can cause additional injury, as can anything loose in the car in contact with the airbag module.

Airbags can present a serious danger to infants, small children and small adults. All adult drivers and passengers should move their seat back as far as possible, with drivers still at a comfortable distance to safely operate the vehicle. Individuals are advised to sit 10 inches away from the airbag and all the way back in their seats. Those with asthma should be aware that powders (cornstarch or talcum powder) used to lubricate the airbag as it deploys may trigger an asthma attack. Seek treatment after an accident involving airbag deployment.

Infants and children under 12 should never ride in the front passenger seat, even in a child safety seat or booster chair. It is dangerous to allow a child to sit in the front seat of a car because of the harmful affects an airbag can have on them, but it is unavoidable in many two-seater trucks with no back seats, which is why many truck companies have created a switch device that can turn an airbag off for a passenger -- in the instance of a child in the front seat.

For vehicles without such switches, they can be installed to accommodate people with medical conditions or who can't sit far enough back to stay 10 inches away from the airbag, or for those who need to transport infants or children and have no back seat or a back seat too small to fit a child seat.

Even after an accident when the airbags have not deployed, victims and rescue personnel must be cautious. Airbags can deploy some time after the initial impact, causing injury and death.

Airbags that have never been deployed from an accident should actually be replaced as a car begins to age in order to offer drivers and passengers the safest driving experience. Timing varies, but a 14-year life for an un-deployed airbag is typical. Airbags typically run a self-test when the vehicle is started, and a dashboard indicator lights up when there is a problem.

If you have suffered injury from improper airbag deployment or a car crash, you may wish to consult with an experienced auto accident or personal injury attorney about your case. Your personal injury attorney may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and/or future medical care.

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