1996 GMC SIERRA Owners Manual

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You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too
loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury.
The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
(Crew
Cab)
If you have an Extended Cab, see “Rear Seat
Outside Passenger Positions (Extended Cab)”
earlier in this section.
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Lap-Shoulder Belt (Crew Cab)
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
~ belts. Here’s how to wear
one properly.
1.
2.
t
Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt. across you.
Don’t let
it get twisted.
Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull
up
on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When
the lap belt is pulled out all the way,
it will lock. If it
does, let it go back all the way and start again.
If the belt is not long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender” at the end
of this section.
Make sure the release button
on the buckle is
positioned
so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if
you ever had to.
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The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious
or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the
body
are best able to take belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks only if there’s
a sudden stop or
a crash.
You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
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Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and
all children smaller than adult size. In fact,
the
law in every state in the United States and in every
Canadian province says children up
to some age must be
restrained while
in a vehicle.
Smaller Children and Babies
A CAUTION:
Smaller children and babies should always be
restrained
in a child or infant restraint. The
instructions for the restraint will say whether it is
the right type and size for your child.
A very
young child’s hip bones are
so small that a
regular belt might not stay low on the hips, as it
should. Instead, the belt will likely be’over the
child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply
force right on the child’s abdomen, which could
cause serious or fatal injuries.
So, be sure that
any child small enough for one is always properly
restrained in
a child or infant restraint.
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Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a
vehicle.
A baby doesn’t weigh much -- until a
crash. During
a crash a baby will become so
heavy you can’t hold it. For example, in a crash
CAUTION: (Continued)
at only 25 mph (40 kd), a 124b. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become
a 2404b. (110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
Secure the baby in an infant restraint.
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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
(Except Extended
Cab and Crew Cab)
The child restraint must be secured properly in the
center or right front passenger seat.
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.
Where to Put the Restraint
(Extended Cab and Crew Cab)
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
infmt and you’re the only adult in the vehicle. 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.
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Top Strap
If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be
anchored. If you need to have an anchor installed, 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.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (Extended Cab)
If you nave a Crew Cab, see “Securing a Child Restraint.
in
a Rear Outside Seat Position (Crew Cab)” later in
this section.
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 resbaint as the
instructions say.
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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. e
Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed. If the
shoulder belt
goes in front of the child’s face or neck,
put it behind the child restraint.
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