An air bag is not a soft, billowy pillow. To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard at up to 200 miles per hour - faster than the blink of an eye.

Drivers can prevent air bag-related injuries to adults and children by following critical safety points.

• Sit back at least 10 inches from the steering wheel and dashboard.
• Always wear your seat belt properly.
• Always seat children, 12 years and under, including infants, in the back seat, whether or not there is an air bag in front. The back seat is the safest area in most crash situations. In some states, such as California, this is the law.
• Always wear your seat belt properly. If you have small children and your car has back-seat airbags, check with the vehicle manufacturer to find out if the airbags have been activated.
• Check your owner's manual and car seat manual for car seat installation advice and warnings.
• If your steering wheel tilts, direct it toward your chest, not your head.
• If you are pregnant, place the lap belt low on your abdomen with the shoulder portion over the collarbone and tilt the steering wheel toward your chest.
• If your vehicle does not already have one, an air bag on/off switch can be installed in many automobiles if the request meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) specifications.