We know it’s important for you to feel safe on the roads, no matter which vehicle you travel in. That’s why we created Guardian Angel on Call, a benefit to help keep you safe on the road in any vehicle. It’s included in all comprehensive; off-road; third party, fire & theft; 1st for Women Essential; motorcycle; and third party only policies. Depending on your cover, this benefit includes: our mobile crash detector that sends an ambulance if you need emergency medical assistance if you were in a severe accident, an authorised tow-truck to meet you at your exact location, a Guardian Angel to wait with you if you feel unsafe, a lift to get you wherever you need to go, and our claims team will be notified immediately of your accident.
What is Guardian Angel on Call and who can use the benefit?
When you take out comprehensive; off-road; third party, fire & theft; 1st for Women Essential; motorcycle; and third party only cover, you automatically get Guardian Angel on Call to help keep you safe on the road.
Depending on your cover, this benefit includes: our mobile crash detector that sends an ambulance if you need emergency medical assistance if you were in a severe accident, an authorised tow-truck to meet you at your exact location, a Guardian Angel to wait with you if you feel unsafe, a lift to get you wherever you need to go, and our claims team will be notified immediately of your accident.
To use it, you don’t need to install any devices in your vehicle; simply download our free app, and make sure that your travel monitoring and location settings are switched on.
Guardian Angel on Call offers:
1. Comprehensive and Off-road vehicle cover:
When you take out comprehensive or off-road vehicle insurance with us, and download the 1st for Women app, you’ll get a Guardian Angel on Call to help keep you safe when you travel.
Guardian Angel on Call offers:
- A mobile crash detector that detects if you were in a severe accident and sends help immediately to your location.
- An ambulance if you need emergency medical assistance.
- An authorised tow-truck that you can track to your exact location.
- A roadside assistance provider that you can track to your exact location if your vehicle is out of fuel, has a flat battery, or a flat tyre.
- A lift to wherever you need to go if your vehicle was towed.
- A Guardian Angel to wait with you until help arrives.
- Our claims team will be notified immediately of your accident.
- Guardian Angel on Call can be shared with the regular drivers on the policy and up to 5 family and household members.
1st for Women will cover the roadside and accident assistance cost for the insured vehicle. The user can request roadside or accident assistance for a vehicle not on the policy, but at their own expense.
2. Third party, fire & theft; 1st for Women Essential & motorcycle cover
When you take out third party, fire & theft, 1st for Women Essential or motorcycle insurance with us, and download the 1st for Women app, you’ll get a Guardian Angel on Call to help keep you safe when you travel.
Guardian Angel on Call is only available to the policyholder and offers:
- An ambulance if you need emergency medical assistance.
- An authorised tow-truck that you can track to your exact location.
- A roadside assistance provider that you can track to your exact location if your vehicle is out of fuel, has a flat battery, or a flat tyre.
- A lift to wherever you need to go if your vehicle was towed.
- A Guardian Angel to wait with you until help arrives.
- Our claims team will be notified immediately of your accident.
1st for Women will cover the roadside and accident assistance cost for the insured vehicle. The policyholder can request roadside or accident assistance for a vehicle not on the policy, but at their own expense.
3. Third Party only cover
When you take out third party only insurance with us, and download the 1st for Women app, you’ll get a Guardian Angel on Call to help keep you safe when you travel.
Guardian Angel on Call is only available to the policyholder and offers:
- An ambulance if you need emergency medical assistance.
- A lift to wherever you need to go if your vehicle was towed.
Downloading the app
The policyholder will be required to download the new 1st for Women app and sign in using his/her valid South African ID number or passport number.
App sharing
A policyholder, with a comprehensively insured vehicle on their policy can share the Guardian Angel on Call benefit with the regular driver of that active, comprehensively insured vehicle noted on a policy; and up to five family or household members chosen by the policyholder.
There will be an App Sharing section on the app where the policyholder can nominate up to five family/household members per active policy. Once these members have been added, a link with a unique code will be texted to the applicable members.
The family/household members will then use the link to visit a dedicated page on the 1st for Women website, using the unique code to register a profile and download the app, to gain access to the Guardian Angel on Call benefit.
Regular drivers of the policy in question will be loaded on the app, linked to the appropriate vehicle. Once the regular driver’s(s’) details has/have been confirmed (or updated if necessary) by the policyholder via the app or website, a link will be texted to the regular driver(s).
These regular drivers will then use the link to visit a dedicated page on the 1st for Women website, register a profile and download the app, to gain access to the Guardian Angel on Call benefit.
User requirements
The regular driver and five nominated members will be required to:Use the link in the SMS sent, enter the requested information as well as the unique code from the SMS.
The policyholder, regular driver and/or family/household members will be required to:
- download, install and accept the terms of use on the application; and
- supply and save her/his medical aid details and medical conditions on the application.
Device compatibility
This application will be available on most Smartphones but will not be compatible with other devices such as tablets and smart watches.
Device requirements: Mobile Crash Detector
For this application to work and provide you with the best possible response, please ensure that the smartphone you will be using has access to the application, and at all times:
- have the application running (this does not mean the application must always be open, but rather that it should always be running in the background);
- have the policyholder, regular driver and five nominated family or household members signed into the application;
- have text messaging capability;
- be powered on and able to transmit data to the EMS service provider’s call centre;
- be within the relevant communication network operator’s coverage area and have the necessary communication services enabled;
- have its GPS (global positioning system) and microphone functionality enabled; and
- have sufficient data to allow the application to operate.
The travel monitoring function must have been activated by the travel monitoring algorithm on the application in order to detect a severe motor vehicle crash (this could take a number of kilometres to start depending on location and device settings).
Device requirements: All other services
For this application to work and provide you with the best possible response, please ensure that the smartphone you will be using has access to the application, and at all times:
- have the policyholder, regular driver and five nominated family or household members signed into the application;
- have text messaging capability;
- be powered on and able to transmit data to the roadside assist service provider’s call centre;
- be within the relevant communication network operator’s coverage area and have the necessary communication services enabled;
- have its GPS (global positioning system) and microphone functionality enabled;
- have sufficient data to allow the application to operate; and
- have sufficient airtime available to make a phone call.
Application
Guardian Angel on Call can only be active on one device per user at a time.
Nominated family/household member(s)
Family and Household members/loved ones refers to your family or those living on the same property as you.
Mobile Crash Detection
Mobile Crash Detection provides you with peace of mind, in the form of a benefit on the 1st for Women app that runs silently in the background and will automatically detect when the regular driver is involved in a severe accident. A medically-trained emergency assist consultant will then phone the regular driver to confirm if she/he needs emergency medical assistance. If she/he confirms the need for assistance or does not answer her/his phone, the consultant will immediately dispatch the nearest emergency medical service (EMS) to the exact accident location recorded by the app at the time of the accident.
This benefit is designed to support the regular driver(s), if they have downloaded the app on the smartphone that they keep with them. Because of this, the regular driver will be able to utilise the benefit even though she/he is driving someone else’s vehicle or is a passenger in any other vehicle.
Please note that this is an early alert system that is only available within South Africa's borders. The regular driver will be liable for any medical costs incurred. It is important to keep the details captured on the app up to date, as these details may affect the action taken by the EMS.
The accident location details will not be used for the finalisation of your claim and will not affect the outcome in any way.
Accident and Roadside assistance
Accident and Roadside Assistance is included with all vehicle – comprehensive; third party, fire & theft; off-road; and motorcycle policies.
The policyholder; regular driver; nominated family/household member(s) will only be able to track the assist provider in the app if:
- The assist provider has the supporting technology activated on their devices;
- If the request for assistance is for the vehicle insured on the policy;
- If the request was made from the 1st for Women app.
The breakdown assistance service has a maximum annual limit of three call-outs per insured vehicle. The accident assistance service has no limit for the insured vehicle.
Please refer to your Assist Terms & Conditions brochure for more information.
A lift
- The user can request a lift only if the vehicle was towed due to an accident or breakdown.
- Only one lift request per incident.
- Once we have received the request, we will arrange a lift to collect the policyholder; regular driver; or nominated family/household member at the scene when the lift services are available within a reasonable timeframe. Alternative arrangements will be made with the policyholder; regular driver; or family/household member if the lift will not arrive within a reasonable time or if there are no lift services available in the area.
- The drop-off destination will be agreed to with the policyholder; regular driver; nominated family/household member, but will be limited to the metro area where the incident occurred or to the closest place of safety.
- Lifts can only be arranged for people over the age of 18 years.
Emergency medical assistance
- 1st for Women will not be held liable for the cost of the emergency medical services (EMS).
- If the patients require transportation to a hospital, the choice of hospital will be determined by the EMS.
- It is the responsibility of the regular driver(s) to ensure that their medical aid/medical condition details are up to date on the 1st for Women app.
Panic Button
My 1st for Women panic button is not working. Who can help me?
There is a dedicated digital support team within the 1st for Women call centre that you can contact on 0861 339 339 to assist with your query.
What happens if Namola cannot reach me?
Should you not answer the phone, Namola will dispatch armed response to the latest recorded GPS coordinates of your phone.
How do I download the 1st for Women Panic Button?
You would visit the Google Play store (Android) or the App Store (Apple) and search for the 1st for Women app and download it, or simply update your existing app if you had previously downloaded and registered on it. The Panic button would live within the 1st for Women app on the opening screen or under the Guardian Angel on Call section.
What services does the 1st for Women panic button offer me?
- Private Armed Response
- Police
- Metro / municipal law enforcement
- Traffic law enforcement
- Fire & Rescue
- Over 5000 responders from over 1000 community safety initiatives
If you, our 1st for Women customer, is feeling unsafe in any situation you could use the Panic Button for assistance from one or more of these services. For example, if you were out for a run, driving in a secluded area and felt unsafe or were in a hi-jacking situation you could utilise the Panic Button for assistance. We always aim to inspire you with confidence so that you can live your best life.
Can the agent stay on the line with me until I feel safe?
This is generally not required but should you feel threatened or unsafe, the agent can stay on the line with you until you feel safe.
Do I pay extra for this benefit?
You, as a 1st for Women customer do not pay any extra amount for this benefit as it is included in your policy.
Is this service available across South Africa?
Yes, this service is available nationally across South Africa. You will be connected to it wherever you are, provided that you can connect to a mobile operating network and you have a minimal amount of data. Whilst our 1st for Women partner, Namola cannot guarantee emergency responder assistance, as they connect you with the appropriate emergency service as opposed to providing the emergency service, each call is personally handled by one of the Namola Response Centre Agents, which gives you the reassurance that help is on the way. Innovative technology helps the Response Centre Agents find the nearest and best suited emergency responder for your emergency.
Why can it take public responders a while to arrive?
It’s important to understand that our 1st for Women partner, Namola, is not responding to the incident itself, but rather they connect you with the appropriate emergency services that can assist. Requesting assistance through this service is the simplest and fastest way to get help in any emergency. The Response Centre Agents co-ordinate emergency services on your behalf, which includes public service providers as well as community safety initiatives like neighbourhood watches, who can assist users in their local communities. Your incident will only be closed when you have the help that you need., Namola is here to make emergency responders accountable for attending to emergencies, and to stay with you until help arrives.
Can I share this benefit with my family and friends?
Yes, 1st for Women allows you to share this benefit with up to five family members and friends.
How long does it take for an agent to call me back after I have pressed the button?
An agent will call you back within 90 seconds or less.
How long does it take for the responder to arrive?
In the event of an incident where Private Armed Response Partners are confirmed to have been dispatched, Namola and Private Armed Response Partners shall do their utmost to ensure that there is a 15 minute response time from the time of dispatch.
There are three buttons on my app, what are they each for?
- Call for an Ambulance – You should press this button if you need:
- Emergency medical help
- Get Road/Accident Assist – You should press this button if you need:
- Roadside Assistance
- For a breakdown
- A flat battery
- A burst tyre
- Your fuel tank runs dry
- Accident assistance
- A mobile crash detector
- Emergency Medical Assistance
- A tow truck to tow your exact location
- A lift to where you need to go if your vehicle was towed
- A Guardian Angel to wait with you until help arrives
- Our claims team will be notified immediately of your accident
- Hold to activate Panic Button – You should press this button if you:
- Feel unsafe or threatened
- Require the fire brigade
- Feel someone else’s safety is threatened
- Need Armed Response, the Police, the Metro, Traffic officers or Fire and Rescue
What happens if I press the wrong button?
You would still receive help, but this assistance may be delayed due to the handover process that would take place with our providers.
When is the panic button service available?
The 1st for Women Panic Button service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
What is a Safe Zone?
A Safe Zone is an area where Namola is able to send armed response to you.
What happens if I press the Panic Button but I am not in a Safe Zone?
Namola is only able to request Private Armed Response should Private Armed Response be available in a given area. If you are outside of a Safe Zone, and the agent has confirmed the need for assistance, Namola will seek to dispatch the relevant public and/or volunteer emergency service responders.
How do I know that the Panic Button is working on the app and is there a way to test if it’s working?
Yes, the app was designed to run silently in the background without interfering with your mobile device usage. To test if this feature is running correctly, you can open the app and tap the panic button on the home page. Your location will be pinged and displayed to you.
The policyholder can see if the regular driver details are updated via the 1st for Women app. If the policyholder would like to make a change or update the details of the regular driver, they can contact the call centre or update them on their online profile on the 1st for Women website.