When OnStar Member Janine Oblak came across a downed tree blocking the road during a heavy rainstorm, she was stumped on what to do. She’d previously pushed her red Emergency button* to report a driver who was swerving as they switched lanes and driving dangerously. But was a downed tree something she should report? “Is this really one of those things that I need to call in or can I wait?” Janine wondered as she weighed her options. She was able to drive around the tree, but it was a tight squeeze, and as the rain continued to come down, Janine worried another driver might crash while trying to avoid the tree.

She decided to push her red Emergency button and spoke to an OnStar Emergency-Certified Advisor,* letting them know where she was and what was going on. The Advisor was grateful Janine had pushed the button and confirmed that reporting something blocking the road was a perfect way to use her OnStar service and be a Good Samaritan. After assessing the situation, the Advisor contacted local authorities so they could quickly and safely get the tree out of the road, helping avoid further traffic problems. Traveling with OnStar makes it easy for Members to be Good Samaritans, just like Janine. So, how can you become one? It’s easier than you think — all it takes is pushing the red Emergency button and reporting what you see to an OnStar Advisor, who can alert the appropriate First Responders. Because without Members pushing the button, First Responders might not know there’s an emergency in the first place. 

There’s no restriction on what you can report to be a Good Samaritan. It can be something as serious as a crash or medical emergency, or something as simple as coming across a stray pet. You can even request help for other motorists who don’t have OnStar. 

Take these stories of other OnStar Members, for instance:
 

• Member Sue Stanek has used her OnStar service to help others on the road not once, but twice: one time when she witnessed another vehicle hit a deer, and another time when she witnessed a vehicle fire at the side of the highway.
  
• When Members Richard and Pamela Henderson came across another vehicle that had crashed through a guardrail on a remote stretch of road, they were able to use OnStar to call for help for the other driver. 

As you can see, it’s easy to use OnStar to help others and make a difference. “I’m so grateful that the Advisors are making sure that I’m safe out there,” Janine says. So if you see a problem out on the road, being a Good Samaritan is as simple as pushing the red Emergency button and requesting assistance.