Linking OnStar with EMS

Many car owners today have come to rely on General Motors' OnStar to provide advice until help arrives on the scene of their accident, or even a flat tire. OnStar is now working with Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) to help reduce emergency response times by providing exact location and critical information about crashes and other emergencies.

OnStar recently developed "Your OnStar Training Kit" to help PSAP dispatchers and emergency responders better understand its services. The kit was created in response to questions about how OnStar and the 9-1-1 dispatch community can work together most effectively to assist OnStar subscribers in emergency situations.

One OnStar feature on a dozen General Motors vehicles equipped with OnStar that directly impacts 9-1-1 response is the AACN-advance automatic crash notification-which automatically contacts a call center advisor if the vehicle is involved in a moderate to severe frontal, rear or side-impact crash, regardless of airbag deployment.

When a motorist calls OnStar, the advisor automatically receives: caller and vehicle information, airbag status, location (cross streets and GPS position), name of the 9-1-1 dispatch center with jurisdiction for the area and contact information for the dispatch center. The OnStar advisor verifies with the caller that an emergency exists, attempts to identify the nature of the emergency, and determines if there is an immediate need for law enforcement, fire or EMS response. OnStar then contacts the dispatch center and, after verifying jurisdiction, provides emergency incident information, offers to conference the center in on the call to speak directly with the vehicle's occupants, provides the dedicated OnStar emergency services callback number for emergency services staff, and provides an OnStar case number, which is critical for callbacks. The OnStar advisor then offers to stay on the line with the occupants until help arrives.

For more information on how OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers, call 888/466-7827 or visit www.onstar.com.