WE CAN’T GUARANTEE A WIN BUT WE CAN ENSURE YOU GET HOME SAFELY FROM THE WORLD CUP

International Rescue, the first ever international mobile phone travel emergency and concierge application from Trafficmaster, is on hand to help the 30,000 UK visitors to the World Cup

South Africa is reported to have the 10th highest crime rate per capita across 60 developed and developing countries. Reports of muggings, pickpockets and even car hijackings are common place. Consequently many World Cup visitors will understandably be wary of travelling to and across South Africa to watch England play. However a new smart phone service from Trafficmaster provides 24 hour security, helping you in any emergency. International Rescue is the first ever smart phone emergency and concierge travel service in the world. It is supported by round the clock teams of travel experts in the UK, as well as travel teams located in over 40 countries. The South African service partners with a specialist security and emergency response company that is used to dealing with crime and emergencies in this part of the world. They even have a fleet of armed helicopters that can provide immediate emergency response. So whatever the crisis, whether that is a medical emergency, a bus crash in the bush, a mugging in Port Elizabeth or a car theft in Cape Town, International Rescue is on hand to help. International Rescue also provides a concierge service, where personal assistants can use their knowledge of South Africa to help you find a pub that serves British food or a hotel nearest to the football stadium. International Rescue is available within the Trafficmaster Companion suite of travel services. It can be uploaded on iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows based smart phones. All country local teams speak English and can provide a liaison between you, British embassies, the police, border controls and emergency services such as ambulance, fire, mountain rescue and coast guard. Tony Eales, Chief Executive of Trafficmaster, says: “South Africa has had a lot of bad press regarding its high crime rates. Clearly there will be potential problems, and the stress will be exacerbated because tourists won’t know who to turn to or the towns’ local policing resources may be stretched. This is where International Rescue comes to the fore. It is supported by a specialist emergency response team who is used to dealing with anything from assaults, car hijacks through to lost passports and lost people. What’s more it is simply accessible from your smartphone, so no need to remember numbers or take any additional documentation with you.” To provide quick and professional assistance International Rescue collates and securely stores personal information from you that will only be used in an emergency. This data include passport number, next of kin, blood group, allergies, current medication and insurance details. For those fans travelling to South Africa to watch England, International Rescue provides a quick tip travel guide: Date Match Venue Advice 12.06 England v USA Rustenburg High crime region. Don’t be fooled by ‘relaxed’ atmosphere. There are a number of robberies in restaurants whilst diners are eating. 18.06 England v Algeria Cape Town Above national average violent crime rate. Much of crime is related to drugs, alcohol and poverty. Stay away from the suburbs. 23.06 England v Slovakia Port Elizabeth Known as the ‘friendly’ city. Tourists have to be aware of beggars and pickpockets and not to venture into secluded areas. Avoid the central part of the city at night. General advice when travelling to and in South Africa: • Avoid walking anywhere after dark, particularly in urban areas, and especially in the poor suburbs or business districts of any of the larger cities and towns • Car hijackings in South Africa are prevalent. Always be aware of your surroundings, vehicles following you or people supposedly flagging you down, particularly at night • Don’t stop on any of the freeways for more than a few minutes, and in the case of a breakdown, immediately call for help • Leave important documents and valuables in a safe place. Use the safe facilities at hotels or where you are staying. • Don’t leave anything lying in sight in your car overnight. Even if it is not of value. International Rescue is part of the Trafficmaster Companion suite of travel services, which includes UK based satellite navigation, live traffic information and 24 hour personal assistants. International Rescue can be downloaded from the iTunes store, the Blackberry Appstore, the Trafficmaster website and other online application stores for £20 a month or £65 for an annual subscription. Calls to the emergency and concierge teams are charged at UK and local landline rates. For more information about International Rescue and Trafficmaster Companion’s other services go to www.trafficmaster.co.uk ENDS