We all agree that it is vital for responders to quickly identify all potential safety concerns at a crash scene. Determining the presence of airbags inside the vehicle is no exception. Parts 1 and 2 of this edition of the University Of Extrication focus on a recommended procedure called "scanning" for airbags. Part 3 presents tips on opening jammed doors when scanning reveals side-impact airbags are in the doors.

Note how the side-impact airbag ID sewn into the seat of this 1999 Mercury Cougar sits below the window level. It will be hidden when the Cougar's door is shut.

When airbags were located only on the driver and front passenger side of a vehicle, it was easy to scan for airbags. With a quick look at the steering column and another glance at the glove compartment area, you'd have the whole story. Now with the advent of knee airbags, airbags in the roofline, airbags for rear-seat passengers and a wide variety of side-impact airbag systems, rescuers have a more difficult task determining where airbags are located.

Before we can learn how to scan the vehicle's interior, we first need to know what we are looking for. Fortunately for us, all automakers are offering some form of visual identification indicating the presence of airbags in a vehicle. Unfortunately, there is no standardization as to type or location of these "airbag ID" labels.

Let's begin by studying the means of identifying the newest supplemental restraint systems, side-impact airbags. Side-impact airbags are occupant safety features that an increasing number of automakers are designing into their vehicles. Approximately 34 of the 1998 model year vehicles were equipped with side-impact airbags. An even larger number of vehicles will offer side airbags in the 1999 model year.

A third type of airbag ID found on seats is a plastic blowout panel. This Chevy Venture minivan has gray seats with a distinctive all-black airbag ID panel along the seat edge.

The 1998 and 1999 model vehicles with side-impact airbags all have at least one form of airbag ID. There are four basic types of seat airbag IDs used by automakers today, several sizes of blowout panels and IDs for door-mounted units, a roofline airbag ID and IDs for rear-seat airbags.

Side-impact airbag locations can include the following:
• Windshield/VIN plate
• Front door
• Front seat
• B-pillar
• A-pillar/roofline
• Rear seat

Using the photographs presented in this article, study the various examples of seat, door and roofline airbag IDs and become familiar with their typical locations. Remember, it is possible that the vehicle you are studying can have side-impact airbags in more than just one location.

Part 2 will present a scanning process for use by first-arriving responders that will assure that all front, side, rear-seat and knee airbags are identified quickly and accurately at a crash scene.

The only vehicle sold in the U.S. with side-impact airbags in the rear seat is the Audi. Note the cloth tab sewn into the seam of the rear outboard seat and the adhesive decal on the C-pillar.	The fourth type of seat airbag ID is used by Audi. It consists of a cloth tab sewn into the outer seam of the seat cushion. The adhesive decal on the B-pillar also cautions that an airbag is near. It is concealed when the door is shut.

For seat-mounted side-impact airbags, there are four basic airbag IDs. One style displays an oval-shaped patch sewn into the seat upholstery. A 1998 VW Passat airbag ID is shown.	The problem with the second type of seat airbag ID found on this 1998 Toyota is its small size and poor position. The thin decal reads "SRS SIDE AIRBAG" and will be hidden by any occupant wearing a coat, sweater or jacket that hangs over the edge of the seat.

Door-mounted side-impact airbags all have airbag IDs that include two elements: airbag lettering and a blowout panel in the door trim.

The size of the airbag blowout panel provides some indication of the size and shape of the bag when it deploys. The airbag ID is the small "SRS" letters pressed into the black plastic button to the rear of the panel.