Whatever you think about them, there’s one thing you cannot deny—airbags are lifesavers, and you need them in your life on the road. Car accidents are something you wouldn’t wish on anyone, but the numbers say that they happen more often than you might think.
If you want to be safe in case of violent car accidents, you should always make sure you have your airbag ready and you get airbag module reprogramming to make sure it works well.
The Value of an Airbag
Since 1941, airbags have served as an essential safety measure in vehicles all over the world. In the early ‘50s, airbags were pre-deployed, which was troubling as there was no assurance that they would expand in time.
However, modern vehicles have more than one airbag installed: frontal airbags, side airbags, seatbelt airbags, knee-level airbags, and seat airbags.
Airbags’ main safety contributions are the following:
- Increasing support for the head, neck, and spine
- Decreasing the force on a person’s head
- Decreasing the chance of being ejected from the vehicle
Things to Do When Your Airbag Deploys
If you get into a vehicular accident, there are important things you should not dare miss to keep yourself safe. Here are four essential steps you should take to heart.
Check Yourself If You Have Injuries
After an unfortunate incident where your airbag deploys, take a breath and compose yourself. Now, before you do anything else, take stock of yourself—self-examine critical parts of your body such as your limbs, neck, back, and head. Press hard on any bleeding wounds and try to get your bearings if you’re disoriented or dizzy.
Once that’s done, it’s time to look to your passengers. Try checking if they are okay and if they sustained any injuries. Remember that some injuries are not visible, so you will all need medical attention before you can go home.
Do take note that you shouldn’t drive to have yourself checked into a hospital. Make sure you call for emergency services so you can be safe on the road.
Turn Off Your Car and Go Out
Due to recent technology, airbags usually come equipped with an apparatus that allows the vehicle to turn the engine off. This was developed to avoid possible oil leaks that might lead to explosions.
If your engine is still on for some reason, hurry and turn it off. Then, try to exit your vehicle. Watch your surroundings and make sure that you are safe and won’t get into another accident. Focus on moving away from your car in case it goes up in flames.
Check Out Your Vehicle
After considering your health and the people you are with, try to have the car assessed. Give a call to the police for an accident assessment and documentation. Take photos of your vehicle, particularly the parts that are damaged.
Make sure to contact your insurance provider at the scene and ask how the next steps of vehicle repair and restoration would go.
Have the Car Airbag Changed
If you get your vehicle safely repaired, make sure you have a new airbag installed. Consult a trusted mechanic and have them do an airbag module reset. You can also talk to them about replacing your seatbelts to ensure your safety in the future!
Final Thoughts
Airbags are extremely valuable safety tools you should not take for granted. Because of their important role, especially in accidents, make sure you have them regularly checked by your trusted mechanic. You might not know that you need an airbag control module repair, so better be safe than sorry!
If you are in need of an SRS airbag module reset, head on to Safety Restore today. We can help you re-use your existing airbag and have it restored to pristine condition. Questions? Give us a call, and we’ll help you.
