Last year, severe thunderstorms knocked down several trees, creating a dangerous environment for those outdoors in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So when Chevrolet Tahoe driver and OnStar subscriber Carole Cooper was walking her dog while vacationing near the park, she noticed a number of campers in distress: an unconscious 7-year-old girl, her father (who had several broken ribs), and her mother.
Cooper ran to her Chevy Tahoe and drove up to the campers, turning it into a central emergency station. Others in the area helped with bringing campers in distress to the SUV; Cooper then called OnStar, receiving emergency medical instructions from an emergency advisor. OnStar also conducted first responders to the scene. Unfortunately, the roads were blocked by fallen trees, and the responders were forced to reach the campsite by foot. In addition, the public safety communication system was down — turning Cooper’s Tahoe into a makeshift command post as the rescue workers used the vehicle’s OnStar connection to stay in touch and coordinate with other emergency personnel. If it weren’t for the OnStar system, the injured family would have had to wait four to five hours for the trees to be cleared and for the rescue workers. All ended well, as the family was transported to a nearby hospital.
Recognizing Cooper’s efforts, she was honored by The Wireless Foundation for using her vehicle’s telematics system as a temporary command center to help injured campers. She was named a 2013 Wireless Samaritan at the 19th Annual VITA Achievement Awards Dinner on Monday evening, arranged by The Wireless Foundation.
The GM Authority Take
Awesome work, Ms. Cooper!
Try doing that with your non-built-in cellular communication in a… Ford.
Comments
Great story, I give it the obligatory “Two Thumbs Up” way to go.