Have you heard about the OnStar Guardian™ app1 or responded to an emergency incident originating from the app? The OnStar Guardian™ app1 gives OnStar members, and up to seven of their selected loved ones, smartphone access to key safety services such as Mobile Crash Response, Location Status, Emergency Services and Roadside Assistance, wherever they go, even outside of their vehicle.
Here’s a closer look at the available features of the OnStar Guardian app that may be used in an emergency you should be aware of:
Mobile Crash Response. Using a smartphone’s built-in sensors,2 Guardian is designed to detect the unique pattern of a vehicle crash. When this occurs, the app automatically alerts an OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisor,3 who makes contact with vehicle occupants, assesses the situation and notifies the appropriate Emergency Communications Center (ECC) to request assistance, if necessary.
One of the most valuable benefits of the Guardian app is that it uses the GPS satellite data accessed by the phone, meaning it can provide a much more precise location of a crash than trying to pinpoint a scene using a ping from a cell tower. ECCs often face challenges in determining the location of a mobile 911 call, so the GPS data offers increased accuracy.
Because an OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisor communicates directly with someone at a crash scene via the app, the Advisor will triage the incident to provide First Responders a detailed assessment of the situation.
To ensure that false positives from the sensors ― such as when a phone is simply dropped or moves under normal conditions around the vehicle ― don’t inadvertently indicate a crash, the app employs a unique algorithm to measure vehicles in motion, using a consistent speed threshold for a consistent amount of time. Extensive testing has been done to validate that the algorithm can correctly identify crash patterns to avoid accidental activations. Click here to see OnStar Guardian Mobile Crash Response in action and learn more.
Location Status. With the Guardian app, members and their selected loved ones can opt to share their location information and view the shared locations of those in their circle. This not only allows parents to ensure their teenage children are where they should be, it also allows members to locate other important people in their lives, including elderly parents who might have lost their way. Click here to learn how the Location Status feature of the Guardian app can help locate missing persons.
Emergency Services. The OnStar Guardian app also features a red SOS button, similiar to the in-vehicle system. Members can use this button on the app when they aren’t sure what to do during a potential emergency situation, whether calling for assistance for themselves or as a Good Samaritan for others. An OnStar Advisor is available 24/7 to assess the situation from each call and determine the next steps, including whether an Emergency Communications Center (ECC) should be contacted to request a dispatched response.
Visit public-safety.onstar.com/guardian to learn more about the OnStar Guardian app or contact us at emergencyservices@onstar.com.
