Good Samaritans Use OnStar by GM to Aid Others in Need
16 März 2005 - 9:24PM
PR Newswire (US)
Good Samaritans Use OnStar by GM to Aid Others in Need DETROIT,
March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- OnStar's growing subscriber network
represents the nation's largest, most technologically advanced
fleet of Good Samaritans. Thousands of OnStar Good Samaritans have
used their OnStar service to assist travelers who have been
stranded on our nation's urban and rural roads or who needed
emergency services. OnStar encourages subscribers to use their
OnStar system to speak to an advisor on behalf of others in need.
And OnStar subscribers have responded. Each month, OnStar advisors
receive about 4,500 contacts from Good Samaritans whose vehicles
are equipped with OnStar. With the help of OnStar's embedded
cellular calling system and advanced Global Positioning System
(GPS) satellite technology, emergency responders can be accurately
directed to the site of a stranded motorist, a crash, or to
individuals in need. Skip and Terri Garcia were crossing the Red
Mountain pass during a heavy snowstorm in Southwestern Colorado
when the Pontiac Montana minivan they had been following suddenly
disappeared. The Montana with six passengers slipped off the icy
road and tumbled down 400 feet in the canyon below. After he
surveyed the situation, Skip directed Terri to use the OnStar
system in their Chevrolet Suburban to contact an OnStar advisor.
"Skip came back and said 'Yes, definitely, they're down there. Call
for help.' So, I did. I pushed the emergency button on my OnStar,"
said Terri. After speaking to Terri, the OnStar advisor alerted the
Ouray emergency services of the incident and used the vehicle's
OnStar GPS location system to direct the volunteer mountain rescue
team to the crash victims. Help arrived in about 30 minutes, and
the occupants of the minivan were taken to the hospital for
treatment. All six passengers survived. The survivors could not
contact emergency services because their location in the deep
ravine prevented their cell phones from making a connection. The
OnStar system in the Garcias' Suburban allowed rescuers to quickly
locate the crash site. "The Good Samaritan service is an integral
part of OnStar's industry- leading safety and security services,"
said Cathy McCormick, Manager of OnStar Emergency Services. "Every
second counts to increase the likelihood of survival in the event
of emergency situations, especially in remote areas." Good
Samaritans provide a range of aid from helping bring roadside
assistance to fix a flat tire to getting lifesaving responders to a
crash scene. In some cases, Good Samaritans have prevented a
potential tragedy. Chuck Morrison of Prescott, Arizona, noticed a
small girl walking alone in the neighborhood. Neither a parent nor
guardian was accompanying her. The child had wandered away from
home and didn't know where she lived. Mr. Morrison pushed the
OnStar button and an advisor connected him to the local emergency
dispatcher. The four-year old had been reported as missing, and
police were dispatched to the site. Shortly afterwards, the child
was reunited with her parents and unharmed. Every day, an estimated
200,000 calls are made to 911 operators using wireless technology,
according to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet
Association (CTIA). OnStar responds to about 13,000 emergency calls
each month which are transferred to emergency service operators for
appropriate assistance. OnStar continues to work closely with
emergency personnel to report thousands of motor vehicle
emergencies every year. Between December 2004 and February 2005,
OnStar responded to a monthly average of: -- 900 airbag
notifications -- 400 stolen vehicle location requests -- 20,000
roadside assistance requests Affirming its commitment to safety,
security, and peace of mind, General Motors is making OnStar a
standard feature on all retail vehicles for customers in the United
States and Canada. The expansion of OnStar service within the GM
U.S. and Canadian retail fleet will be completed in 2007. GM's
commitment to increased OnStar availability will also help increase
OnStar's network of potential Good Samaritans, helping to further
aid others who are in need. About OnStar OnStar, a wholly owned
subsidiary of General Motors, is the nation's leading provider of
in-vehicle safety, security and communication services using
wireless technology and the Global Positioning System (GPS)
satellite network. OnStar is available on more than 50 GM models
for 2005. By the end of 2007, OnStar will be a standard feature for
GM's retail customers in the United States and Canada, covering all
segments and prices except for some commercial vehicles. OnStar
safety and security services include automatic notification of air
bag deployment, stolen vehicle location assistance, emergency
services, roadside assistance, remote door unlock, and GM
Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics. OnStar Personal Calling
allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated
calls from their vehicle. More information about OnStar can be
found at http://www.onstar.com/ . DATASOURCE: OnStar CONTACT: Jim
Schell of OnStar, +1-313-665-2790, Web site: http://media.gm.com/
http://www.gm.com/ http://www.onstar.com/
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