1997 GMC SAVANA Owners Manual

Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how to wear one properly. When the shoulder 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.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Don’t let
it get twisted.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. 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. 3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end
of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.
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I
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.
A CAUTION:
- -
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.
- -1
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~~~ To unlatch the belt,
just push the button on the buckle.
Center Passenge Position
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Lap Belt
If your vehicle has rear bench seats, someone can sit in
the center positions.
To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shown until
the belt is snug.
When you sit in a center seating position, you have a lap
safety belt, which has no retractor.
To make the belt
longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt. Buckle, position and release
it the same way as the lap
part of a lap-shoulder belt.
If the belt isn’t 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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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 w*"- --==snger 4ir Sags)
A CAUTION:
Smaller children and babies shpuld 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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
CAUTION: (Continued) heavy you can’t hold it.
For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph
(40 kd), a 12-lb. (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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Smaller Children and Babies (Cargo
Vans with Passenger Air Bags)
A 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 rear-facing 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. 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)
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heavy you can't hold it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40
km/h), a 12-1b. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become
a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on
your
arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
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 Cargo
Vans and Cab and Chassis Models).
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 a rear seat. If your vehicle has a front
passenger air bag,
never put a rear-facing child restraint
in the front passenger seat. Here's why:
A CAUTION:
m
A child in a rear-facing 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. If your vehicle has a right
front passenger's air bag, always secure a
rear-facing child restraint in
a 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 a rear seat.
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