Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in a vehicle collision includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12), an inflator (14) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) with the inflator fluid flow from the inflator (14) being transverse to a central axis (16) of the inflator (14), and a shield (70) including a piece (72) of material folded about the inflator (14) and having a wall portion (102) interposed between the inflator (14) and the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and against which gas initially exiting from the inflator (14) impinges. The wall portion (102) has tear seams (76a-d) that rupture due to inflation fluid pressure acting on the shield (70) to enable the wall (102) portion to form a plurality of flaps (80a-d) within the inflatable occupant protection device (12).