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Published on: August 22, 2016
Air bags and the skin
Monica Corazza1, Silvana Trincone, Maria Rosaria Zampino
1Dipartimento di Medicina, Clinica e Sperimentale-Sezione di Dermatologia, Universita' degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Savonarola, 9-44100, Ferrara, Italy. czm@unife.it
Skinmed
|September 15, 2004
Summary
Air bags deploy rapidly, using sodium azide to inflate with nitrogen gas. While a safety feature, deployment can cause skin irritation, burns, and eye injuries due to high temperatures and alkaline substances.
Area of Science:
- Automotive Safety Engineering
- Dermatology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Automobile air bags are standard safety devices designed to deploy during sudden deceleration.
- Deployment involves the rapid combustion of sodium azide, producing nitrogen gas for inflation.
- The process releases high-temperature gases and sodium hydroxide, a caustic substance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the potential dermatologic and nondermatologic injuries caused by air bag deployment.
- To inform medical professionals and vehicle safety experts about the risks associated with air bag activation.
Main Methods:
- Review of documented injuries associated with air bag deployment.
- Analysis of the chemical and thermal properties of deployed air bag contents.
Main Results:
- Air bag deployment causes dermatologic injuries in 7%-8% of cases, including traumatic lesions, irritant dermatitis, and thermal/chemical burns.
- Nondermatologic injuries include ocular damage (alkali keratitis, corneal abrasions), ear lesions, fractures, and contusions.
Conclusions:
- Air bag deployment, while enhancing vehicle safety, presents a risk of significant physical injury.
- Awareness of these potential injuries is crucial for both medical treatment and future safety design improvements.
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