1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
(Except Cargo Vans)
r-
I
Smaller children and babies si dd 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
1 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
i restrained in a child or infant restraint.
1-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - --
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 kmk), a 12-1b. (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.
1-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Smaller Children and Babies (Cargo Vans)
I 4 CAUTION:
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. Smaller children
and babies should always be restrained in
a child
restraint. However, infants, who should be
restrained in a rearfacing child restraint, cannot
ride safely in this vehicle. The instructions for the
restraint will
say whether it is the right type and
size for your child.
If a forward-facing child
restraint is suitable for your child, be sure the
child is always properly restrained while riding in
this vehicle.
lA
A CAUTION:
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
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine heavy you can’t hold it. For example, in a crash
at only
25 mph (40 kmk), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become a 240-1b.
(110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible to hold.
Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
If your vehicle has this option, there’s a built-in child
restraint at each
outboard position of the second row
bench seat.
1-44

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This child restraint system conforms to all applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Each child restraint is designed for
use only by children
who weigh between
22 and 60 pounds (10 and 27 kg)
and whose height is between
33.5 and 5 1 inches (850 and
1 295 mm) and who are capable of sitting upright alone.
The child should also be at least one year old. It is
important to use a rear-facing infant restraint until the
child is about a year old.
A rear-facing restraint gives
the infant’s head,
neck and body the support they would
need in a crash. See “Child Restraints” later in this
section for more information.
@ What if the top of my child’s shoulders is above
the shoulder belt slots for the five-point child
restraint harness system?
A: A child whose shoulders are above the shoulder
belt slots for the five-point child restraint harness
system shouldn’t
use the harness. Instead, the child
should sit on the vehicle’s regular seat cushion and
use the vehicle’s adult safety belts.
BEFORE YOU USE THIS CHILD RESTRAINT,
BE SURE THE TOP
OF THE CHILD’S
SHOULDERS IS BELOW THE SLOTS THAT
THE HARNESS
GOES THROUGH. IF A
CHILD WHOSE SHOULDERS ARE ABOVE
THOSE SLOTS USES THIS CHILD
RESTRAINT, THE CHILD COULD BE
IN JURED DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR
CRASH.
IF THE TOP OF THE CHILD’S
SHOULDERS
IS ABOVE THE SLOTS, DON’T
USE THIS CHILD RESTRAINT WHILE THE
VEHICLE IS
IN MOTION.
1-45

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Securing a Child in the Built-in
Child Restraint
I---
1. Lower the child restraint cushion. You’ll
be using the child restraint’s harness (A) to
secure your child. Don’t use the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-46

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine i’ I
Using the vehicle’s regular safety belts on a child
seated on the child restraint cushion can cause
serious injury to the child in
a sudden stop or
crash.
If a child is the proper size for the built-in
child restraint, secure the child using the child
restraint’s harness. But children
who are too
large for the built-in child restraint should sit on
the vehicle’s regular seat and use the regular
safety belts.
WARNING! FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE
MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS
ON THE
USE
OF THIS CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM
CAN RESULT IN YOUR CHILD STRIKING THE
VEHICLE’S INTERIOR DURING A SUDDEN
STOP OR CRASH. SNUGLY ADJUST THE
BELTS PROVIDED WITH THIS CHILD
RESTRAINT AROUND YOUR CHILD.
2. If the left and right halves of the shoulder harness
clip are fastened together, separate them.
3. Place the child on the child restraint cushion.
1-47

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. With the other side of the harness, pull the shoulder
part
of the harness out in a single motion and place
the harness over the child’s shoulder. If
the belt stops
before the latch plate reaches the buckle, let the belt
go back all the way and start again.
7. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
4. Select only one side of the harness. In a single motion,
pull the shoulder part of the harness out, and place
the
harness over the child’s shoulder. If the belt stops
before the latch plate reaches the buckle, let the belt
go back all the way and start again.
5. Push the latch plate (B) into the buckle until it clicks.
Be sure the buckle is free of any foreign objects that
may prevent you from securing the latch plates. If
you can’t secure
a latch plate, see your GM dealer
for service before using the child restraint.
1-48
8. Pull up on both latch plates to make sure they
are secure.