Health Tip: Safe Use of Air Bags

How you and your children should be seated

February 3, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- Air bags can save the lives of you and your children, but they can also injure children if the youngsters are unrestrained or improperly restrained.

The American College of Emergency Physicians offers these suggestions regarding air bags:

Everyone in the car should always wear their seat belts.
The front seats of the car should be moved back as far as is possible and comfortable.
Young children should always be in the back seat, in either a car seat or booster seat.
The driver should sit at least 10 inches from the steering wheel.
Placing the driver's hands at the 10 and 2 positions on the steering wheel can offer protection in the event that an air bag is deployed.