An inflatable air bag (10, 10a) inflates to restrain a vehicle occupant (13) during a vehicle collision. The air bag has an opening (16, 16a) for venting gas from the interior space (14, 14a) of the air bag. A panel (20, 20a) overlies the opening in the air bag and is secured with, preferably, stitches (22, 22a) to the air bag. The stitches may extend in a generally U-shape along only a portion of the perimeter around the opening in the air bag. Alternatively, the stitches may extend along the entire perimeter around the opening in the air bag. When gas is vented from the interior space of the air bag through the opening in the air bag, the panel restricts flow of the vented gas rearwardly in the vehicle toward the occupant and directs the vented gas forwardly in the vehicle away from the occupant.