What does it feel like to get hit with an airbag?

emt_me911

To put it bluntly, it hurts.

I was in an accident last spring in which my Explorer's airbags deployed. It happened so fast...the bags were there and gone before I could comprehend that they had deployed.

They inflate and deflate in less than a couple of seconds. The bags do not slowly deflate. As a person hits one, they are already deflating to cushion the person and provide the gentlest inpact possible...far better than hitting a steering wheel, dashboard or windshield.

I suffered friction burns on my neck and chest and my throat and chest were sore for days afterwards. I also had a bruise on my left shoulder that went down across my chest from the seat belt. My arms and ribs were okay, although sore.

I inhaled the powder used to aid the airbags' deployment and it took me a while to catch my breath...I couldn't stop coughing and the EMTs had to give me oxygen.

There is no doubt that I would not have walked away from that accident if not for the airbags. I was lucky. Just a note...I always wear my seat belt. It was a rear-end collision at about 45 mph. My Explorer had over $7000 worth of damage and the minivan I hit was totalled. This was a chain reaction collision and I was at the end of the line...no chance to stop or even slow down.

EMT

I know it both ways...years ago, I was thrown through a windshield...the car I was driving did not have airbags. I was lucky to have survived.

rock star mommy

well, i was in an acident in 2000 that involved my air bag going off and it wasn't a pleasant suprise. tho most people might sustain bruises to their face due to the air bag inflating, i was lucky and only got a bump and a few brush burns on my face. nothing major. my spleen, on the other hand, had been lacerated from the impact/air bag. definately wasn't the best feeling in the world, let me tell you. i couldn't breathe, sit up straight, lay down completely...and this stupid night nurse kept taking my pillows and blankets i had as props to keep me in a position that i was comfortable in and could actually breathe.

X3

david m

No but it hurt like hell. I was like getting hit with a spring loaded matress but it was worth it from what could have happened.

kool kid

it gave me a bloody nose thats it and yes it definetly saved me from something worse i could have been killed if i didnt have it

jetfan2

My daughter got a bloody nose from one and she said it smelled real bad. But if you saw her car after the accident You would as well as my wife and I be convinced that it saved her life. I mean it she would have been seriously injured without it. I am so happy her car had an air bag.

Mizzi<3

how bout a broken nose! it hurts soo f****ing bad!

Hussein Z

My friend got hit yesterday. Its like being slapped really hard in the face. But it fades away after the airbag slowly deflates.

Funnel Cake

i was in a car accident six years ago, and i got hit by the passenger seat airbag. it definately helped, if not i would have gotten seriously injured. i still got a bloody nose...

kramer k

Like a slap in the face...

But do not put your arms up!
You will break your arms, keep them down at your side and you will be fine, although it fells like a slap in the face.

rebbyshy1

i truly don't remember, it knocked my *** out

T Stone

it hurts really bad .. if you trying to steer to avoid the crash with you arm over the bag when it deploys .. it almost knocked me out .. with my own arm.

Tom

Knocked glasses off. no other problems

Erin

my sister was in an accident a few weeks ago. It made her nose bleed and the chemicals burner her face a little. Other than that, no major injuries. I think it kept her from having a broken nose or jaw.

Hi!

it hurts

chocolatebee

ive heard about everything from broken noses, burns, cuts to the face, serious head injuries to nothing at all.

wvparanormal

It feels exactly like getting hit in the face with a soccer ball that is traveling 100mph. I've had both. The initial hit, you will see stars, you might get a bloody nose, but you should be able to shake it off and go on about your business. If you are holding the steering wheel, you will get some chemical burns on your arms, not bad though. Just a couple pock marks, like getting splashed with grease when frying bacon.

bella2nv01â™¥

the impact is so strong and so fast that ou dont fell it at first, but then it hurts like hell...especially if the accident wasnt that bad...i got into an accident and i was the only one that was severely hurt because of the air bag...but then again, it helps because it saves you sometimes...i have heard of cases that the air bag has killed rather that save...thats sad...so just don't wonder how it fells...trust me u dont wanna know!

Mike J

I was going really fast down a dirt road, lost control hit a tree, airbag deployed late so my head bounced off the steering wheel and the airbag deployed, really didnt hurt that bad.

D K

I had hit a tractor trailer in 2006 don't even remembe it going off except for the residue it left, saved my life, and broke a few ribs, but still alive, that was all that mattered.

Matt E

considering ur hitting hard inflated rubber flying at you at 40mph in the blink of the eye and your face is foing into the air bag on a motorway at say 80 mph itz goin to ******* hurt bad!

LoveBOi

Not from experience, but i have heard that they have questioned the actual benefit, because the air bag deploys at such a high speed that i can knock you unconscious, and from experience, it smells aful, the chemical formula.

Mittmoudh R

like a broad punch in the face and chest

nothing broken, but i felt like i was broke

very definitely saved my fanny

Nightmatter

lol wow.. a lot of bad drivers answering this question... but i know this answer cause i purposely exploded one with a friend once for the same curiosity you have. And it didnt hurt at all... of course if you have your seat right near the steering wheel cause your small... then its going to hurt a lot more, even then its nothing to cry about... theirs a lot of over-dramatic people in this world...

Andrew C

iunno

quinn dog

it tickles

GiNaaa !! ãƒ„

it felt like a black girl's *** smooshing on my FACE !!

but yea it hurts, i think i wud rather have a bad headache and a bloody nose then dieing ! :]

THANK YOU FOR THE INVENTION OF THE AIRBAG !

mary

I am 80 years old and a girl ran a stop sign and right in front of me..hard impact. I have bruised legs and cuts and bruises here and therfe, but my chest hurts all the time, as do my ribs. This happened 3 days ago. I had all the tests at the hospital..no broken bones. 2 airbags deployed and that saved me from broken bones etc.

Jeromy

I just got hit with one 9 hrs and 20 min ago. Passenger side teaching my brother-in-law to drive a stick shift, all clutch and no brake off embankment. B****slap in face and chest, shock kicks in during/after, so it doesn't necessarily hurt as bad right away. Once the powder clears, and as your fighting to breathe through it, you try to asses the damage to your memory of the last few seconds, check for blood and broken body parts, then reach for the door handle. Climb out and realize while your waiting for the ambulance, that crap hurt. Chemical burns, sore/broken ribs, big bruises on your face,neck,and chest, versus full force face/body plant in dashboard without airbag. Still coughing on dust from bag with bruised ribs and kidneys(blood in urine), but I will live, I can deal with a beat up car(thank God for friends to drag it home for you) knowing an inflatable balloon saved my arse ... priceless

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