1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE Owners Manual

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The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how
to wear me properly.
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.
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 SQ YOU
would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if
you ever had to.
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3. TQ make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull, .up on the shoulder part. 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 peIvic bones. And you'd be less likely
to slide under
the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at YOIN abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and ~C~QSS 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.
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Rear shoulder belt c~mfort guides will provide added
safety belt COXII~QI-~ for children who have outgrown
child restraints
and for small adults. Men installed on a
shoulder belt, the codort guide pulls the belt away
from the neck and head.
There
is one guide for each outside passenger position in
the rear seat. TO provide added safety belt comfort for
children
who have outgrown child restraints ad for
smaller adults, the COIII~Q~~ guides may be installed on
the shoulder belts. Here's how to install a comfort guide
and use the safety belt:
1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket QIZ the side
of the seatback.
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2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic
cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide
over the belt, and insert the
two edges of the belt into
the slots
of the guide.
3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted ad it lies flat.
The elastic cord
must be under the belt and the
guide on top.
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4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as
described
in “Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions”
earlier
in this section. Make sure that the shoulder
belt crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the
belt edges together so that you can take them out from
the guides. Slide the guide into its storage pocket on the
side
of the seatback.
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and all children smaller
than adult size. Neither
the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler
changes the need,
for everyone, to use safety restraints.
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.
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it Mates can be seriously injured
or Wed.
This is true even though your vehcile
has reduced-force frontal air bags. Air bags plus
lag-shoulder belts offer the best protection for
adults, but not for young children
and infants.
Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air
bag system is designed for them. Young children
and
infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can
provide. Always secure
children
properly in your vehicle.
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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
~ seguiar belt might not stay low on the hips, as it
I should. Instead, the belt will likely be over the
I child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply
’ f~~e right on the child’s abdomen, which could
~ cause serious or fatal injuries. So, be sure that
1 any child small enough for one is always properly
j restrained in a child or infant restraint.
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Never hold a baby in your am 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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