1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 if there’s a sudden stop
or a crash,
or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
/! CAUT,,A
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine -- -d) I
I
at only 25 mph (40 kdh), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
Secure the baby in an infant restraint.
I
I
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)
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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.
Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here’s why:
/! CAI, LION:
A child in a rearfacing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s
air bag inflates. This is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You may, however, secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the right front seat. Before you secure
a forward-facing child restraint, always move the
front passenger seat as far back as it will go. Or,
secure the child restraint in the rear seat.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
I
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat
can be badly injured by the right front passenger
air bag if it inflates. Never secure a child restraint
in the center front seat. It’s always better to
secure a child restraint in the rear seat. You may,
however, secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front passenger seat, but onlv with
the seat moved all the way back.
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 installed, you
can ask your Cadillac dealer to put it in for you.
If you
want to install an anchor yourself, your dealer can tell
you how to do it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Canadian law requires that child restraints have a top
strap, and that the strap be anchored.
If your child restraint has
a top strap, your dealer can
obtain
a kit with anchor hardware and installation
instructions specifically designed for this vehicle. The
dealer can then install the anchor for you. In Canada,
this work will be done for
you free of charge. Or, you
may install the anchor yourself using the instructions
provided in the kit.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position
U
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.
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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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
5. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
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. you push down
on the child restraint.
directions to be sure it is secure.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Rear Seat Position See the earlier part about the top strap if the child
restraint has one.
You’ll be using the lap belt.
A child in a child restraint in the center front seat
can be badly injured by the right front passenger
air bag if it inflates. Never secure a child restraint
in the center front seat. It’s always better to
secure a child restraint in the rear seat. You may,
latch 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the
plate and pulling it along the belt.
however, secure a forward-facing child restraint
in the right front passenger seat, but only with
the seat moved all the way back.
for the child restraint.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the L instructions say.
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