Top tips for managing an emergency

Women’s Month in South Africa is about recognising the women in our country, saluting them for the contributions they have made and empowering them to continue being a positive influence on all of us.

This month we’d like to empower our women in terms of what to do in the event of a vehicle-related emergency so that they remain safe, and have access to the best response services in the country.

The first and golden rule of any emergency is to remain calm. If you’re struggling to stay calm, try consciously slowing your breathing down by breathing in through your nose and out your mouth. While doing so actively listen to your breath, concentrate just on your breathing. When you feel calm again, you can tackle the problem at hand.

The second is to ensure that you have access to emergency roadside and medical assistance. Your insurance company is often able to provide this, your medical aid can offer the medical assistance, and so can we if needed. Make sure you have all the important assistance numbers on your mobile phone, and that you share your journey with your family so they can keep track of where you are.

To ensure that you are able to contact the right people at the right time, contact Cartrack today and speak to us about fitting one of our ultra-innovative tracking units to your vehicles.

And here’s what you can do in the event of:

A Breakdown:

1. No matter what has happened, it is best to stay in your car, with your seat belt still on.
2. Pull over to the side of the road, out of the way of traffic if possible.
3. Call your roadside assistance service provider to arrange assistance, as well as the people waiting for you at your destination so that they know what is happening.

An Accident:

1. In a minor bumper bashing, move your vehicle out of the way of traffic if possible.
2. Record the other vehicles and drivers’ details:
3. ID number
4. Driving licence number
5. Driving licence issue date
6. Vehicle registration number
7. Vehicle licence number
8. If you have a camera phone, take photos of the vehicles involved including yours, as well as the damage sustained to both vehicles. It’s a good idea to turn geolocation on at this stage so that the photos’ meta data includes important information such as time, date and area.
9. Also take photos of the area, the road, the debris, and take note of the lighting conditions especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
10. If you feel threatened in any way, get back into your vehicle and take note of as much as you can while inside.
11. Contact your insurance company to arrange for a tow-in for your car. Remember to get a reference number from them, and to check that the towing service provides you with a matching number.
12. Remember, no matter how minor the incident, you should report it to the SAPS within 24 hours, preferably at the station in the area in which it happened.
13. If you go home before reporting the incident, make a quick sketch of what happened while the details are still fresh in your mind.
14. If you’re involved in a major accident, and are conscious, try not to move. Chances are other people will have seen what happened and will contact the emergency services for you.
15. If your life is in danger, the first responder may have to move you, try to remain calm and as still as possible.
16. If your Cartrack package includes the Crash Alert feature, our Control Room will have received the signal and dispatch the appropriate response.

A hijacking:

1. REMAIN CALM and do exactly as the hijackers demand.
2. Don’t look any of them in the eye, but try to take in other details such as clothing, shoes, accents, types of weapons e.g. revolver or pistol.
3. When told to get out, undo your belt using your left hand and keep your right hand up
4. Respectfully and calmly request if you can remove your items. Again, do so with your left hand.
5. If you are trapped in the car, continue to remain calm and don’t antagonise your attackers. Take note of what the attackers are saying, which direction they’re travelling in, and other landmarks that indicate where you could be.
6. If your vehicle has a Cartrack unit installed, contact us as soon as possible so that we can start locating your vehicle.
7. Also contact the SAPS and your family to let them know what has happened and where you are.

Smash and Grab incidents

1. Prevention is better than reaction so rather put all valuables out of sight especially mobile devices, handbags and laptops
2. Drive with your windows slightly open to make it more difficult for culprits to smash them
3. If your window is smashed, don’t wipe the glass off. Slowly get out of the car and let the glass fall naturally from you. This will help prevent further injuries taking place.
4. If you are injured, treat the wounds and ask someone to contact the SAPS for you.

Hijackings, armed robberies and major accidents are traumatic events; it would be a good idea to get trauma counselling as soon as you can after the event to reduce the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Again, speak to your medical aid for assistance with this. The SAPS may also be able to help and some companies even provide their staff with an Employee Assistance Programme that includes counselling.

At Cartrack, we pride ourselves on putting you in control, even in traumatic situations. That’s why we’ve developed a number of solutions that are designed to give you, your loved ones and those who are important to you #PeaceOfMind.