Canada - 'What3Words' App used to locate couple in distress in London, ON. - 5 Mar 2021 -

[LadyL]

At approximately 12:40 p.m., on Friday, March 5, 2021, police received a 9-1-1 call from a woman advising that her and her husband were stuck on an embankment near the ice, in the area of Tigerlily and Riverbend roads.

The woman was able to use the application to provide an exact location to our 9-1-1 dispatchers, and emergency crews, including members of the London Police Service, London Fire, and Middlesex-London Paramedic Services, were immediately sent to the area. The couple was located by London police at approximately 1 p.m., and assisted to safety.

'WHAT3WORDS' APPLICATION USED TO LOCATE COUPLE IN DISTRESS

 

[MistyM]

can't you just drop a pin to show people where you are? i thought at first it was an advertisement for the app.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Huh- looks free in the Apple App store. I think in UK only for now?

Paraphrased:
What3Words has provided every 3 square meters a unique combination of 3 words to allow persons or emergency services the precise ability to find you. Saves lives!

 

[LadyL]

Huh- looks free in the Apple App store. I think in UK only for now?

Paraphrased:
What3Words has provided every 3 square meters a unique combination of 3 words to allow persons or emergency services the precise ability to find you. Saves lives!

it was free for me - I downloaded it (Canada)
I have seen it used in a U.S. case too - don't remember which one now but read about it at WS

 

[LadyL]

can't you just drop a pin to show people where you are? i thought at first it was an advertisement for the app.

I don't know what you're referring to?

 

[MistyM]

I don't know what you're referring to?

if you bring up your location map you can put a pin on where you are located and send it to people. using GPS on your phone.

 

[LadyL]

if you bring up your location map you can put a pin on where you are located and send it to people. using GPS on your phone.

yeah I have no idea how to do that lol

 

[whiterhino]

Huh- looks free in the Apple App store. I think in UK only for now?

Paraphrased:
What3Words has provided every 3 square meters a unique combination of 3 words to allow persons or emergency services the precise ability to find you. Saves lives!

Wanted to clarify that this story happened in London, Ontario, Canada. Not London in the UK.

Apparently it literally saves lives! Wonder what happens if you get lost in the woods? What 3 words do they suggest for that scenario?

 

[elliefant]

I have this app. The 3 words are a unique combination for the location are completely random words, not names of where you are, so it doesn’t matter if you’re in woods, or anywhere else. eg sausage-pebble-monkey or jumbo-happy-turquoise etc

I downloaded it a while ago but thankfully haven’t had to use it for an emergency. I should probably learn how to though, otherwise it will be useless when I need it! All I did was find the 3 words for my house

My understanding is that it is easier and quicker to use than other methods. The emergency services here (UK) seem to like it - I saw them responding to What 3 Words alert on a helicopter ambulance rescue programme and that worked well.

 

[whiterhino]

I have this app. The 3 words are a unique combination for the location are completely random words, not names of where you are, so it doesn’t matter if you’re in woods, or anywhere else. eg sausage-pebble-monkey or jumbo-happy-turquoise etc

I downloaded it a while ago but thankfully haven’t had to use it for an emergency. I should probably learn how to though, otherwise it will be useless when I need it! All I did was find the 3 words for my house

My understanding is that it is easier and quicker to use than other methods. The emergency services here (UK) seem to like it - I saw them responding to What 3 Words alert on a helicopter ambulance rescue programme and that worked well.

Thanks for explaining! I understand now. It's sort of a geocache tagging app, like a "code" for any given location. Apparently it's available worldwide.

I thought this happened in Canada, maybe I've misunderstood? Either way, it's good news.

 

[elliefant]

Yes this story was in Canada

 

[whiterhino]

Yes this story was in Canada

You'd think I'd have known since this happened where I grew up lol

 

[Eloise]

This tech is incorporated into an emergency app available in Australia. It was recently used successfully in my local area when a boy on a bike fell 10m.
I have the app on my phone. If you open it up it tells you the three words for your given location.

Boy's lucky escape after 10-metre fall at Barden Ridge

Link to Australia's Emergency Plus App

Screenshot showing an example of the three words available here

 

[LadyL]

I have this app. The 3 words are a unique combination for the location are completely random words, not names of where you are, so it doesn’t matter if you’re in woods, or anywhere else. eg sausage-pebble-monkey or jumbo-happy-turquoise etc

I downloaded it a while ago but thankfully haven’t had to use it for an emergency. I should probably learn how to though, otherwise it will be useless when I need it! All I did was find the 3 words for my house

My understanding is that it is easier and quicker to use than other methods. The emergency services here (UK) seem to like it - I saw them responding to What 3 Words alert on a helicopter ambulance rescue programme and that worked well.

[bbm]

I did the same.

 

[LadyL]

The problem might arise with mispronunciation or in a transcribing error when the words are written down to record for emergency personnel.

“We are finding there are a lot of spelling issues, which might be from when locations are given to the emergency services,” said Mark Lewis at Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW). “Local accents have also been a problem.”

What3Words app has been sending some rescuers to wrong locations

 

[LadyL]

You'd think I'd have known since this happened where I grew up lol

howdy neighbour

 

[whiterhino]

The problem might arise with mispronunciation or in a transcribing error when the words are written down to record for emergency personnel.

“We are finding there are a lot of spelling issues, which might be from when locations are given to the emergency services,” said Mark Lewis at Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW). “Local accents have also been a problem.”

What3Words app has been sending some rescuers to wrong locations

Hello!

Ok but in a real emergency whenever possible, call 911.

This sounds a lot like those GPS horror stories of people driving into snowbanks etc. I wouldn't rely on this app in an emergency. Just saying.

But it does highlight the need for more accessible emergency services. For example having the option to text 911 would be incredible.