Muzii used OnStar Emergency Services to assist man in need

A local man has been recognized for an act of everyday heroism by OnStar Emergency Services.

The OnStar system acts an in-vehicle lifeline for its subscribers. Using an embedded cellular system, GPS and a direct link to emergency medical and law enforcement agencies, live advisers can get the appropriate help needed to the scene, even if the vehicle involved doesn't have OnStar.

OnStar has received more than 85,000 calls from good Samaritans nationwide who stop to help others on the road and has created an official recognition program to honor the do-gooders.

West Linn resident Rennie Muzii was recently recognized through this program.

Muzii and his family were traveling down Interstate 205 when he noticed a man being pulled from the driver's side of a vehicle. Muzii quickly pulled over to help and instructed his wife to push the OnStar emergency button in their GMC Yukon.

When Muzii got to the other vehicle, he learned the man was driving when he became unresponsive. Muzii returned to his vehicle to relay information from the scene to the OnStar emergency adviser. The adviser was able to contact the local 911 center, which dispatched emergency medical services to the location.

"When we pulled over on the side of the highway to help, we didn't really know what mile marker we were at. If we had to try and give directions to someone it would have been difficult and time consuming, but we knew OnStar could find us and send help quickly. And they did," Muzii said.

The emergency adviser explained how the man should be safely positioned and asked him a series of questions about the man's condition to help inform first responders.

The man started to come to as EMS reached the scene.

For more information about OnStar and its good Samaritan program, visit onstar.com.