Driver side airbag with baffle

An airbag has a baffle (2) and a heat shield (6). The baffle contains an opening (1), which is aligned with at least one-half of the inflator opening (4) and having an area that is at minimum one-half of the area of the inflator opening. Inflation gas from an inflator (10) flows into the baffle and then enters the airbag by way of the baffle opening (1). Because of the tortuous flow of the inflation gas inside the baffle, the hot particulates fall to the bottom of the baffle and thus never come into contact with the inflatable cushion (16).