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 Imagine you are in a car accident; the
driver is unconscious; and the vehicle is stranded in a remote area of the county. What would you
do if you were unable to get out due to the force of the impact and severe injuries?
Adam Quaglino found himself in exactly this situation in May. Thankfully, he located a wireless
phone with which to contact emergency personnel. In the end, Adam and his friend Dustin were
airlifted to a hospital for treatment. And today, they are both doing well!
Adam's extraordinary story earned him top honors at the 2002 CellularOne Wireless Safty Award ceremony held
in July. Judges from the SLO County Emergency Medical Service Agency, the California Highway Patrol
and the Tribune named the winner and gave honorary mentions to Greg Carr and Delia Hogan. Greg used his
wireless phone to call emergency services when he saw a propane tank explosion injure two campers,
and Delia called for help on her wireless phone when she witnessed a boat trailer on fire. The
CellularOne Wireless Safety Award is given annually in recognition of National Wireless Safety Week.
Each day across the nation, 156,000 emergency calls are made from wireless phones.
 In a effort to provide safety and
security for victims of domestic violence and at-risk senior
citizens, CellularOne, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo and the local chapter of Soroptimist
International collected used wireless phones during National Wireless Safety Week. The phones were
then inspected, programmed to dial 911, and donated to area women's shelters and to Lifespan Services
Network, which operates programs designed to help seniors retain their independence. This year's
Donate-A-Phone campaign collected more than 260 used phones - almost triple that of last year's total!
 911 Call Saves Lives
Greg Carr, a CellularOne customer, was enjoying a camping trip at Lopez Lake in November.
Sometime during the weekend, a propane tank blew up and seriously hurt two other campers.
Greg was quick to use his CellularOne phone to call for help. In fact, several other campers
tried to contact emergency personnel using wireless phones from other carriers, but only Greg
was successfully able to make a call and summon aid for the injured campers. The injured were
airlifted and flown by helicopter to a Fresno burn center.
We praise Greg for his quick reaction to a very unfortunate situation.
This real life story reinforces how wireless technology has become such a powerful communication
tool. The ability to call for help with a wireless phone has proven to save lives in many
emergency situations. Choosing a wireless provider with superior coverage like CellularOne
clearly has its advantages, especially in a situation like the one experienced by Greg.
CellularOne has invested heavily into our network and has more cell sites
in San Luis Obispo County than any other provider. As importantly, we are often the only carrier
with superior coverage in some remote areas of the County, such as the Lopez Lake area.
We want to hear your stories!
CellularOne is interested in hearing stories from local wireless phone users who have had occasion
to be "Wireless Good Samaritans." If any of you have a personal experience, or know someone who
has, please contact our offices to share your story
You can contact us at 235-1911 or email us at
pr@c1-slo.com.
- Here are some important tips to remember to help get assistance to you as quickly as
possible:
- Remember to give all the necessary information as accurately as possible.
- Be prepared to give your name.
- Give the exact location of the emergency. Try to identify major landmarks or mile markers
that will help emergency vehicles find you quickly.
- Do not end the call until you are told to do so — you may be the only communication
link in an emergency situation.
- Unlike your phones at home, wireless 911 calls DO NOT give the location and, in most cases,
the phone number of the person calling. So it is very important to know your location.
- Be careful not to accidentally dial 911. Use the locking mechanism on the phone.
- 911 calls are directed to California Highway Patrol Communication Centers.
- Wireless phones are used every day for lifesaving communications. In fact, approximately
140,000 wireless 911 calls are made daily in the United States. Oftentimes, wireless phones
are the only means of communication in an emergency situation.
Remember: Safety is your most important call.
- Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial and redial
- When available, use a hands-free device.
- Position your wireless phone within easy reach.
- Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions.
- Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.
- Assess the traffic situation; if possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.
- Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations while driving.
- Use your wireless phone to call for help.
- Use your wireless phone to help others in emergencies.
- Call roadside assistance or a special non-emergency wireless number when necessary.
Wireless phones are a technological privilege that most Americans find useful in their
day-to-day lives. As more of us go wireless every day, an etiquette guide becomes helpful
to learn what is acceptable for all of us!
Here are a few tips on respecting other's privacy and space while using your wireless phone.
- Lights off, Phone off!
In movies, theatres and other performances, the polite thing to do is switch off
your phone. Many establishments post rules about phone usage. If you need to take calls,
switch your ring options to a low or vibrate mode and take your call outside so as not to
disturb others!
- Respect the Rules!
Hospitals, airlines and many other business and establishment often have strong
reasons for not permitting wireless phone usage. Turn your phone off when the signs
instruct you to do so.
- Respect Personal Space
Be mindful of others when you are speaking on your phone. Especially in public
places where your conversation may offend others in your immediate area.
- Be Responsible!
Use good judgment and act responsibly when walking or driving with your phone.
(see driving safety tips) Hands-free kits can be a nice option for speaking on your phone
when walking or driving. We always need to be aware of safety, both of ourselves and
others when speaking on your wireless phone.
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