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General Motors' OnStar(R) Offers Tips for Adult and Kid Safety
DETROIT, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The roads are full of parents, guardians and
caregivers traveling in vehicles with precious cargo onboard -- children.
Whether they are being driven to and from school, daycare, or extracurricular
activities, children spend a lot of time in vehicles. In fact, children ages
six to 18 spend an average of one hour a day in cars, according a National
Household Travel Survey conducted every six years by the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
National Child Passenger Safety Week occurs each year during the week of
Valentine's Day, bringing public attention to issues of transporting children.
In a recent study conducted by OnStar(R), 76 percent of women surveyed said
they would be concerned about traveling alone in a deserted area with their
children. So, it is important for parents and caregivers to teach their
children when and how to contact help from an automobile in the event of an
emergency.
Leta White of Norwood, Ohio, was hiking in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
with her 12-year-old son and his friend, but this trip turned out to be more of
an adventure than they ever imagined.
Nearly three miles from the end of the trail Leta broke her leg, so she turned
to the boys for help. Tommy and his friend hiked back to the family's 2002
Chevrolet TrailBlazer. They pressed the OnStar(R) emergency button and were
relieved to hear a voice answer their call for help.
The OnStar(R) advisor connected the boys with park rangers and help was soon
dispatched. After being on the mountain nearly 12 hours, the rescue teams
reached Leta and carried her to safety. She later underwent surgery to repair
three broken bones in her leg.
Absent of emergencies, there are some caregivers who feel it is their
responsibility to show children how to call for help when an emergency does
occur.
Daycare provider Marica Iannacone, of Danbury, Conn., has taught the children
she cares for more than how to share toys and pick up after themselves. Marica
teaches the kids -- who range in age from six months to eight years old -- how
to contact OnStar(R) for help in the event of an emergency.
"I have taught my children that if we are ever in a crash of any kind, that all
they have to do is push the sign of the 'cross' button," Iannacone said,
referring to the OnStar(R) emergency button. "I consider the OnStar(R)
advisors God's angels and I let the children know that all they have to say is
'help' and the angels will send help."
OnStar(R) has on occasion responded to emergency calls placed by children whose
parents had become ill while driving. Here are some tips:
* Talk to your children about how and when to dial 911, or how to use an
in-vehicle communication system, such as OnStar(R), during an emergency.
* Explain to your children that 911 can be a source of help to them during an
emergency.
* Teach children to give their full name and remain as calm as possible when
speaking with the 911 operator or OnStar(R) advisor so that they can send
appropriate help as quickly as possible.
* Stay on the line until the operator says it is OK to hang up.
Every day, an estimated 200,000 calls are made to 911 using wireless
technology, according to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association
(CTIA). OnStar(R) responds to about 13,000 emergency calls each month.
OnStar(R) continues to work closely with emergency personnel to report
thousands of motor vehicle emergencies every year. Between November 2004 and
January 2005, OnStar(R) responded to a monthly average of:
* 900 airbag notifications
* 400 stolen vehicle location requests
* 20,000 roadside assistance
In addition, General Motors and OnStar(R) have been in the forefront of child
passenger safety. GM has partnered with National Safe Kids organization for
programs such as Safe Kids Buckle Up education, child restraint check ups at GM
dealerships, and Never Leave Your Child Alone. OnStar(R) has joined with the
National Center of Missing and Exploited Children to help find missing children
as part of the AMBER Alert program.
Affirming its commitment to safety and security, General Motors will make
OnStar(R) and electronic stability control (ESC) standard features on all
retail vehicles for customers in the United States and Canada. The expansion
of OnStar(R) will be completed by 2007, and the ESC rollout will be complete by
2010.
"Only General Motors offers a full range of cars, trucks and SUVs that provide
safety features that operate before, during, and, thanks to OnStar(R), after a
crash," said Robert C. Lange, GM executive director, Structure and Safety
Integration.
About OnStar(R)
OnStar(R) by GM, available on more than 50 models from General Motors and
select models from six other auto manufacturers, is the nation's leading
provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services using the GPS
satellite network and wireless technology. OnStar(R) services include
automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle location
assistance, emergency services, roadside assistance with location, remote door
unlock, GM Goodwrench remote vehicle diagnostics, route support and convenience
services. OnStar(R) Personal Calling allows drivers to make and receive
hands-free, voice-activated calls through a nationwide cellular network and
access a wide range of other information services. Additional information is
available at http://www.onstar.com/ .
DATASOURCE: General Motors Corporation
CONTACT: Jim Schell of OnStar, +1-313-667-2790,
; or Oneika Mobley, +1-248-458-8649,
, for OnStar
Web site: http://media.gm.com/
http://www.gm.com/
http://www.onstar.com/