I was in a head on collision 5 days ago and due to the seatbeat and airbag, came away bruised and shaken. Chest contusion, sprained wrist ect. My first thought was that the Camry that now looked like an accordian, was on fire. This was a result of the air bag. There were several earlier post describing the chemical burn smell, which sounds exactly like I smelled. My confusion come from the fact that 5 days later I still smell it. When I take a breath, I still feel it in my nose, in my throat(which is a little sore) and it seems I can feel it in my lungs. The lungs could be from the impact but it seems I am breathing in a smoke filled room! I have flushed my nasal passages with saline to no avail. Has anyone ever heard of this and will it go away?
Welcome to the board, alfinway.
At least years ago, IIRC, air bags were deployed by burning sodium azide, which is a sort of rocket fuel or at least close. I think it’s somewhat nasty stuff. But making airbags work and keeping them affordable isn’t easy.
People I know who were in bad accidents years ago don’t complain about that. They complain about lasting orthopedic issues, scars, various other things, but not that.
Congratulations on surviving having your car turned into an accordion!
the “smoke” after the airbag deploys is mostly cornstarch or talcum powder. it’s there as a “dry lubricant” so the airbag material doesn’t get hung up on itself; it needs to deploy completely as quickly as possible. you most certainly inhaled some of it.