Abstract: A pyrotechnic powder composition comprising a mixture of an oxidizer compound containing oxygen and a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium, barium, magnesium and calcium, and an oxygen bearing metal organic compound is used for inflating a passenger restraint bag for an automobile. The compounds are selected so that a stoichiometric reaction between the oxidizer and the oxygen bearing metal organic compound yields carbon dioxide and water vapor and at least a binary mixture of metal salts having a melting point substantially below the melting point of any of the resultant metal salts alone, and having net heat of reaction less than about 1,000 calories per gram of pyrotechnic composition. One preferred composition comprises about 35% sodium formate and 65% potassium chlorate, for example.