# What is it like when an airbag explodes in your face (and after) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2012, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496 "2012-10-22T06:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/41 "2013-11-03T06:40:31Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Rick, what is the best body, arm and head position for a driver to assume immediately before impact? As far from the scene as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/42 "2013-11-03T20:31:42Z")
I had airbag deploy in accident about 20 years ago (Toyota Celica), T-boning someone who unexpectedly turned across my lane while I was driving 3-40mph. It was instantaneous. I couldn’t tell if I had momentarily blacked out or if airbag covered my face or just general dicombobulation from unexpected collision. My alertness returned as I was slowly rolling into the curb to a stop, with a deflated airbag in my lap. I didn’t wear glasses at the time, and I don’t believe I was holding anything. I had no obvious injury, just a light “bruisy” sensation to my whole face and inner arms in which gentle tapping caused (very) mild pain, but firmer pressure overwhelmed the sensation and caused it to disappear. As previously posted, “acrid” is a good descriptor of the smell (I don’t really know how to define “acrid”, but no other word comes to mind for that kind of burnt, yucky smell). ---
**Author:** ![Glenderson55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Glenderson55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glenderson55)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/43 "2016-02-05T06:12:58Z")
I actually had my first run in with airbags at a younger age. 10 years old to be exact. I was sitting in the front passengers seat of my sister’s car, and we driving home after school (she was 16 at the time). We were going about 25 mph on a street near our house (sister was being dumb) it was a little snowy and we hit a patch of ice. We darted off to the side of the road and plowed into a tree. I remember seeing is getting close to the tree then instantly, BOOM, and i saw stars for a second. I felt it hit me in my face, chest, stomach, and all up my arms. After if deployed I guess I was unconscious for a second and I remember feeling something very hot on my chest and face (I was unconscious and leaning forward on the dash with the inflated bag in front of me) so I said back and started coughing violently from the dust. Had the airbag not deployed I probably would have died. I know the say kids shouldn’t sit in the front until their older and I 10000% agree. I’m just saying I was like 5’2 and skinny af back then and I survived BECUASE of the airbag ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/44 "2016-02-05T22:32:00Z")
Someone upthread mentioned sitting very close to the steering wheel because of having short legs. That would be me too. Should I use stilts so I can sit farther back? All these stories seem to suggest that drivers should wear full face helmets and body armor every time they drive. Does that acrid smoke cause any kind of possibly serious problems for drivers with asthma or other similar chronic pulmonary disorder? What would be the advice for very short-legged drivers who sit very close to the steering wheel? I still worry about getting eyeglasses involuntarily implanted in shredded eyeballs. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/45 "2016-02-06T00:57:40Z")
WE traveling on the freeway about 60 MPH and traffic stopped NOW. I stopped inches behind the car in front of me. Looked in the mirror to see how the car behind me was doing. The drive was fussing with his radio and did not slow down, he hit me from behind at 60 MPH. I saw it coming. Just had seconds to brace my self. There was a loud crash. I blinked and looked around. There was some smoke in the cab of my pick up truck. That was when I realized the air bags deployed. I do nor remember the bags deploying of felling them hit me. The only thing I noticed after was a friction burn on my left arm. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/46 "2016-02-06T03:13:17Z")
Happened to me. I was driving, my wife in the front seat next to me, and our daughter (2 years old) in a rear-facing baby seat in the back. We were stopped at a light on a big through street in Brooklyn (Hamilton Avenue, if you know Brooklyn). A pickup truck rear-ended us and pushed us into the car in front of us. Our car has a standard transmission, and I was in neutral. My foot must have come off the brake when we were hit, and there was no resistance from brakes or transmission, so we slammed fairly hard. My glasses got broken, but there was no bruising. My wife was hit harder – possibly pushed into the side pillar by the airbag. She stayed in the hospital overnight because they were afraid she might have a concussion. Our daughter was pretty much unaware that anything had happened at all. She was completely unscathed. Fortunately. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/47 "2016-02-06T03:43:38Z")
A tip from my driver’s manual is to lower the steering wheel so the airbag deploys into your chest instead of face. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/48 "2016-02-06T03:50:33Z")
I started a similar thread years ago and then got my question answered in real life. I fell asleep and hit a guard rail at 60 or so miles an hour. The airbag deployment was so insanely fast it took me a second to register what had happened, it was an older car and both airbags deployed even though I was the only person in the car, it shattered my windshield. It didn’t hurt at all I just felt dazed for a second. That dust stuff was everywhere. I cut out the airbags and never had it fixed and sold the car like that. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2016, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/49 "2016-02-06T04:37:21Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > On the freeway one doing about 60 when the traffic stops!!! I managed to stop about 2 inches from the car in front of me. I looked into my rear view mirror to check the car behind me it was still doing 60. I braced my self and BANG CRASH. After the ringing I started to check myself and my pick up. That is when I noticed the “smoke” in the cab. I thought great now it is going to burn. Then I noticed the air bags had deployed and the smoke was dust. Never felt it bags go off, and only had a rash on the inside osf both arms. > [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > WE traveling on the freeway about 60 MPH and traffic stopped NOW. I stopped inches behind the car in front of me. Looked in the mirror to see how the car behind me was doing. The drive was fussing with his radio and did not slow down, he hit me from behind at 60 MPH. I saw it coming. Just had seconds to brace my self. There was a loud crash. I blinked and looked around. There was some smoke in the cab of my pick up truck. That was when I realized the air bags deployed. > > I do nor remember the bags deploying of felling them hit me. The only thing I noticed after was a friction burn on my left arm. What are the odds of this happening TWICE to the same person?? Amazing! ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/50 "2016-02-07T16:01:48Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Our daughter was pretty much unaware that anything had happened at all. She was completely unscathed. Fortunately. Is that in indictment of your normal driving 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/51 "2016-02-07T16:09:31Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > What are the odds of this happening TWICE to the same person?? Amazing! What are the odds that he didn’t realize it was a zombie thread that he had previously posted in, and that he just posted the same story again? ---
**Author:** ![duncs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@duncs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duncs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/52 "2016-02-09T15:12:52Z")
I don’t recommend trying to see what color the air bag is. DON’T take a screwdriver to the steering wheel to try to pry it up to take a look. It will probably result in a big bang, broken fingers and a screwdriver whizzing past your face at great speed :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/53 "2016-02-09T18:38:15Z")
> [@duncs](#): > > I don’t recommend trying to see what color the air bag is. DON’T take a screwdriver to the steering wheel to try to pry it up to take a look. It will probably result in a big bang, broken fingers and a screwdriver whizzing past your face at great speed :smack: I highly doubt this story. Based on what I know of SRS ( a whole bunch, I provide tech support on these systems) this scenario is pretty much impossible. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/54 "2016-02-09T20:22:29Z")
I can’t answer this question from direct personal experience, but I can tell you what happened to my mother. I should say, first of all, that she probably wasn’t wearing a seat belt. (I don’t know this for sure as neither of the official reports even mentioned a seat belt – but, knowing my mother, there’s a good chance she wasn’t using one.) Mom was also probably driving too fast; she lost control of her van, probably after hitting a speed bump at too high a speed, and ended up crashing into a rockery. The air bag deployed, and she ended up with broken ribs, and a bruised heart and lungs. Mom lived for a about a month after that; although she was making a slow recovery from her injuries, an infection set in and she just wasn’t strong enough to fight it off. I’m guessing that the severity of her injuries was mostly do to the lack of a seat belt; someone else has suggested that her short stature played a role (i.e., that she had to sit closer to the steering wheel than most people). I’m not sure what would have happened if there had been no air bag – instant death, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/55 "2016-02-09T20:25:15Z")
What about hearing damage, is that a problem? ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496/56 "2016-02-09T21:13:18Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I was going to ask, How does the airbag impact play with drivers/passengers who are wearing eyeglasses? But I see that **postcards** has just touched on that subject. > > Was **postcards** lucky there? Could it have been much worse? Is there a significant danger that an airbag deployment to the face could shove your glasses right into your eyeballs, rendering them one with your retinas? > > Sounds painful. When it happened to me, I was wearing glasses; didn’t affect them at all. I had abrasions on the nose and chin. Otherwise, just like others: OOOOOh no…BAM! Like a smack, like someone upthread said, a rubber-band sting, dust everywhere, acrid smell. Forget all about those soft, billowy slow-motion things you see. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-when-an-airbag-explodes-in-your-face-and-after/638496.md?page=2)