The most useful three words for a faster emergency response

Ahead of its likely takeover of worldwide postcodes, simplifying home delivery and finding your tent at Glastonbury what3words has some important new converts.

To find you more easily in an emergency, many UK Emergency Services are encouraging you to share your 3 word address.

How do I use what3words in an emergency?

Find the 3 word address for your current location on the free what3words app for iOS and Android. It works offline – ideal for areas with unreliable data connection.Share your 3 word address over the phone to the call handler.The emergency service can then coordinate a response directly to the exact location where help is needed.

What is what3words?

what3words has divided the globe into 3m squares and given each one a unique 3 word address. It means everywhere can be located with just three words. For example ///kite.chats.dine will take you to a precise spot in a field next to the River Ouse in York. 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.

Is my local service using what3words?

The emergency services who have confirmed they are using and accepting 3 word addresses are:

Police

Avon & Somerset Police Bedfordshire Police British Transport Police Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Cambridgeshire Police Durham Police Gwent Police Hertfordshire Police Humberside Police Nottinghamshire Police Norfolk Police Northumbria Police North Yorkshire Police South Yorkshire Police South Wales Police Suffolk Police West Yorkshire Police

Fire & rescue

Avon Fire & Rescue Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Cleveland Fire & Rescue Cornwall Fire & Rescue Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Humberside Fire & Rescue Lancashire Fire & Rescue Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Norfolk Fire & Rescue Northumberland Fire & Rescue Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Suffolk Fire & Rescue South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

Ambulance

East of England Ambulance South Western Ambulance Yorkshire Ambulance Service South East Coast Ambulance Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Organisations

UK Coastguard