Lifestyle

More Security For Your Family On the Road #OnStar #BeSafeOutThere

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and OnStar and received compensation for this post.
All opinions are my own.

Ask any mom about the most important thing in her life and she’ll tell you without a moment’s hesitation that it’s her family.

Same.

I would do anything to keep my family safe. I’m trained in CPR. We have a home security system. I check my smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly. I know that emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time, and while I don’t believe in living in fear, I do believe in being prepared.

In our daily lives, we spend the biggest portion of our time at home, then at work or school, followed by in our cars. Between driving to and from school and work, running errands, road trips, and everything in between, we need to be prepared for emergencies on the road as well. So pack a spare tire, jumper cables, and emergency flares in the trunk; keep a first aid kit under the seat; and consider getting OnStar on your family vehicle.

Why OnStar?

With more than 20 years of experience helping drivers be safe out there, OnStar is the original in-vehicle safety and security technology, embedded in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles.

In the case of a car crash, built-in sensors or the red SOS button will automatically connect you with a real human being who can provide help immediately and dispatch first responders with your location via GPS, even if you’re unconscious, injured, or too disoriented to call for help yourself. If you’re thinking, “Well, I have a cell phone!” (and I bet you are), remember that your phone battery can die or the phone itself can become smashed or misplaced in a crash. OnStar offers peace of mind in emergencies, and as moms, that’s what we’re looking for.

If you’ve ever been in a serious car accident, then you know just how terrifying it can be, especially if you’re alone or injured, or even worse, if your kids are in the car with you. I was involved in an accident about six years ago while my then two-year-old daughter was in the back seat. Everyone was okay, but I still remember my overwhelming fear and panic. I was so shaken up I couldn’t stop crying. The value in having a calm, highly trained OnStar advisor to reassure you with that human connection and keep you company while help is on the way can’t be overstated.

In a medical emergency, OnStar advisors are medically trained and certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch – the same high level of training as a 911 operator – so they can offer remote assistance while help is on the way. My dad is turning 83 this year, and honestly I’m a bit nervous about him still driving. I’d love to know that he’s safe and secure when he’s on the road in the event of a car accident, heart attack, or any other emergency. OnStar can be there when I can’t.

You can count on help from OnStar in more than just life and death emergencies though. If you lock yourself out of your car, OnStar can unlock the door remotely to get you back in. If you’re lost in a strange city, OnStar can give you turn-by-turn directions to get you where you need to go. Some of you may remember when my car was stolen last year. Well, if we’d had OnStar, an advisor could have tracked our car’s location, speed, and direction of travel to help the police find it quicker.

A few years ago on on our annual summer family camping trip, our car broke down on a rarely used logging road. We had no idea where we were, the kids were scared, and I really wish we’d had OnStar to dispatch the nearest tow truck and help us get home safely. Instead, we ended up using almost all my cell phone battery and racking up roaming data charges trying to find someone who could come and get us before nightfall, and we still waited for several hours. Since OnStar also sends monthly vehicle diagnostic emails (especially useful for this less than car-savvy mom!), we might have avoided the breakdown entirely if we’d had OnStar.

Last year I had the chance to test drive a Chevrolet Equinox equipped with OnStar. I was on the other side of the country in Niagara, Ontario, and the friendly advisors helped me find my way around and even offered to find and book me a local hotel! I felt so much more secure knowing that any help I needed was just a button press away.

When you want extra safety and security for your family, consider getting an OnStar plan available on any Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle. Learn more about available services and plans on the OnStar website.

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3 Comments

  • I have OnStar on my car. I see it like it’s insurance so I know if God forbid something happens I will have help. It’s just me and my son so I worry if anything happens to me who will help him.

  • I was in a head on collision when I was a child. Thank goodness my mother wasn’t driving fast on the gravel road. The other vehicle was passing in no visibility. No one was seriously hurt. To this day I totally get nervous on gravel roads. Onstar would have been very helpful as we were not on a busy road.