1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE child seat

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine @ If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an
home, why should I wear safety belts?
accident -- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good drivei-
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 krn) of
home. And the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at speeds of less than
40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts- Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about safety
belts and children. And there
are different rules for smaller
children
and babies. If a child will be riding .in your
vehicle, see the
part of this manual called “Children.”
Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
..
1-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Child Restraints
Be sure the child 'restraint is designed to be used in a
vehicle.
If it is, it will have a label saying that it meets
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Then follow the instructions for the restraint.
You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within
the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury.
The instructions that come with the infant or child
restraint will show you how to do that.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend that you put your
child restraint in the rear seat unless the child
is an
infant and you're the .only adult in the vehic1.e. In that
case, you might want to secure the restraint in the front
seat where you can keep an eye on the baby.
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move
around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people
in
the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle
-- even when no child is in it.
Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be
anchored. If you need to have an anchor instalIed, you
can ask your
GM dealer to put it in for you. If you want
to install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you
how to do it.
1-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
I
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1.
2.
3.
Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions
say.
Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through pr
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show
you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt
. on the child restraint.
back into the retractor while
you push down
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it
go back all the way. The safety belt
will move.freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger bhild passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Seat
Position
You’ll be using the lap belt.
See the earlier part about the top strap if the child
restraint
has one.
1-48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch
plate and pulling
it along the belt.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
4. Run the vehicle's safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.
6. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push
down on the child restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it
is secure. If it isn't, secure the
restraint in
a different place in the vehicle and
contact the child restraint maker for their advice
about how to attach the child restraint properly.
1-49

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt, It will be ready to work for an adult or larger
child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
2. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show
you how.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
1-50

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
people who are.
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at a time.
What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still very
close to the child’s face or neck, you might want
to
place the child in a seat that has a lap belt, if your
vehicle has one.
1-53

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine /i CAUTION:
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries. ~ But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
’ dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go
in
to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat
in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use
it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
I I Checking Your Restraint Systems
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt Now
and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
the child’s thighs. This applies belt force
to the child’s anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other
pelvic bones in a crash. loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect
you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
1-55