1996 GMC SIERRA child restraint

&.’ 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 driver
doesn’t protect
you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) 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. 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.
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.
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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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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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6. 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 child passenger.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position (Crew
Cab)
5. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
you push down on the child restraint.
Make sure the buckle end
of the belt is pulled out all
the way.
If you have an Extended Cab, see “Securing a Child
Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position (Extended
Cab)” earlier
in this section.
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You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one. 1
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.
4. 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.
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5. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way out of the
retractor
to set the lock.
6. To tighten the belt, feed the lap belt back into the
retractor while you push down on the child restraint.
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 child passenger.
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