What is what3words?
A three word phrase could be the difference between life or death for people lost or stranded in remote areas.
Three unconnected words, assigned to a nine square metre area, that allows emergency services find those in need.
A new app and algorithm, developed by tech company What3Words has divided the world into 57 TRILLION nine-sq-metre areas – and each one has its own unique, three-word address.
These three-word addresses can be used by people calling for help when they do not know their exact location – allowing emergency services across the country including West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service to come to the rescue.
The system has already been adopted across the country by emergency services.
It has already been successfully used to rescue and mum and daughter stranded in a remote rural location after a car crash, used by a call handler to locate a sex assault victim being held hostage, and used to find a child lost near a river.
Chris Sheldrick, co-founder of what3words, said: “Being in need of urgent help and not being able to easily describe where you are can be very distressing for the person involved and a really difficult situation for emergency services.
“Today, people nearly always have their phone on them.
“We need to use the tools at our disposal to improve public services and potentially save lives.”
In one of the most recent cases a young mum was saved when her forest walk went wrong.
After three hours Jess Tinsley, her partner and a friend had become completely lost but managed to find a spot with phone signal and call 101 for help.
The call handler urged Jess to download the free app and she was able to give the emergency services the unique three words ‘kicked-converged-soccer’ and a mountain rescue team was dispatched.
The trio were found deep within a 4,900 acre woodland.
Care worker Jess told TeesideLive said: “I was so happy. When the call handler first told us to download the app I thought they were crazy but as soon as it was it only took a minute for them to pinpoint our location.
“I will never forget those three words and can’t thank the police and mountain rescue team enough – they could not have been more hands on and helpful. They were absolutely brilliant.”
what3words could be used to locate your tent in a field, help you meet up with friend’s in the city or navigate around town – the app is easy to use and may just save your life.
what3words is available as a free app for iOS and Android and online map at map.what3words.com. You can find out more about what3words here.