If you are in the middle of a county road and witness an accident, it can be tricky to relay proper coordinates to an emergency dispatcher.
The what3words app helps narrow a geographic location into a three square metre area, providing a combination of three words to identify that location.
That precision is the reason first responders such as fire departments in Perth County have embraced the technology.
Stratford Fire Chief Neil Anderson told My Stratford Now the app is useful for a number of reasons.
It allows citizens to accurately report the location of an emergency, a fire or car accident, for example.
That cuts down on the amount of time it takes for a dispatcher to determine where to send first responders. Every second matters when responding to an emergency, Anderson said.
“It is useful to us, especially in an area with so many tourists. People who spot a fire or accident can tell us where they are even if they are unfamiliar with the area.”
The chief encourages local residents to download the free app.
The service is used by emergency services throughout the world.
