How to Protect Children in Vehicles with Side Air Bags
Below is an except from Transport Canada's website.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp2436/rs200006/menu.htm
Keeping Children Safe in Your Vehicle
Air bags save lives. However, children must be properly seated and restrained at all times. This fact sheet tells you about the four stages of child safety in vehicles equipped with side air bags. No matter what the age of your child, it is important to follow some basic guidelines when travelling with children in your vehicle.
Basic Guidelines
- Use the appropriate child restraint correctly.
- Keep children in the rear seat (the "KID ZONE").
- Keep kids out of the way of all air bags.
- Keep toys, blankets and other objects from getting between your child and an air bag.
- Check the child’s position throughout the journey.
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Why Side Air Bags?
A number of car manufacturers now offer side-mounted air bags as standard or optional safety equipment for front seat passengers. Side air bags protect drivers and front seat adult passengers in certain side-impact collisions. A much smaller number of manufacturers offer side-mounted air bags in the rear seat as standard or optional equipment. Take a moment to read your owner’s manual and identify where the side air bags are located in your vehicle. The following table briefly describes the different types of side air bag:
| Side Air Bag Types |
Description |
| Roof-mounted systems |
Curtains and head tubes come out from the roof line along the upper edge of the doors. These air bags come down along the window to protect your head and neck. |
| Door-mounted systems |
Door-mounted air bags break out of the armrest or the door just above the armrest. When fully inflated these air bags are about the size of a plastic grocery bag filled with air. These air bags protect your chest. |
| Seat-mounted systems |
Seat-mounted air bags come out through the side of the seat back cushion closest to the door. Some air bags will inflate to the size of a small cushion, while others can inflate to the size of a large pillow. The smaller air bags protect your chest, while the larger ones protect your chest and head. |
Side Air Bags: Today and Tomorrow
Transport Canada has conducted extensive tests on side air bags with child crash test dummies. While testing is still ongoing, two main conclusions stand out:
- Children who are leaning against a side air bag when it inflates are at risk of serious injury.
- Children who are kept away from the path of the side air bag — for example, children travelling in age-appropriate, correctly installed child restraints — are not at risk of serious injury.
Transport Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Canadian and international motor vehicle manufacturers. Manufacturers have agreed to design future air bags to meet the requirements of side air bag test protocols recommended by the Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Injury Technical Working Group.
Until new side air bags designed to minimize the risk of injury enter the Canadian automobile market, Transport Canada recommends that you follow precautions contained in this fact sheet.
The Four Stages of Child Restraint Use
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Stae One: Rear-Facing Infant Seat
- 0 – 10 kg (22 lb.)
- Birth to around 1 year old
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Stage Two: Forward-Facing Child Seat
- 10 – 18 kg (22 – 40 lb.)
- About 1 – 4 ½ years old
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Stage Three: Booster Seat
- 18 – 36 kg (40 – 80 lb.)
- About 4 ½ – 8 years old
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Stage Four: Seat Belt
- Over 36 kg (80 lb.)
- About 8 – 12 years old
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Please visit Transport Canada's website for up to date information on Child Restraint Systems: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp2436/rs200006/menu.htm
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