Air Bags and the Skin

Abstract

Air bags, fitted in the majority of new automobiles, are safety devices activated when a sudden deceleration causes the ignition of a propellant cartridge containing sodium azide. The bag is inflated by nitrogen liberated during the combustion. Deployment releases various high-temperature gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and produces sodium hydroxide, a highly irritant alkaline substance. In about 7%-8% of cases, air bags cause dermatologic injuries such as traumatic lesions, irritant dermatitis, and chemical and thermal burns. Nondermatologic lesions, such as ocular damage (alkali keratitis, corneal abrasions), ear lesions, bone fractures, and contusive damage can also be caused by air bag deployment.

Paediatric Burns From Deployment of a Concealed Aviation Seatbelt Airbag

“…The distribution of traumatic injuries mostly involves the face, chest, and upper extremities [12,13], and the spectrum of reported injuries include abrasions, lacerations, dental, auricular and ocular trauma, blunt trauma internal organ injuries including pulmonary contusions, arterial dissection, pericardiodiaphragmatic rupture, laryngotracheal disruption, and skeletal injuries including fractures of the temporomandibular joint, sternum ribs and upper extremity [12][13][14][15]; 7.8% of airbag injuries result in burns (7.8%) [3,7].…”

“…The burn injuries [2,7,12,14] resulting from airbag deployment have been classified by Hallock into three main categories; thermal, chemical, and mechanical (friction-abrasion) burns [10,13]. These burns range from superficial partial-thickness burns [3,12] to full-thickness burns.…”

Car sunshade-induced craniofacial injury: a case report

“…Minor injuries such as abrasions, contusions and lacerations are usually detected on the face, neck, chest, and upper extremities [8,9]. Airbag deployment also releases high-temperature gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and produces sodium hydroxide, a very irritating alkaline material, which can cause superficial and even full thickness burns [10,11]. As demonstrated by this case, an opened and turned sunshade can also be a potentially dangerous object between a lateral airbag and a driver or passenger.…”