Jersey Residents Encouraged to Utilize Location App for Emergencies

The Jersey Fire and Rescue Service is advising islanders to install a specific application on their mobile phones for use during emergencies. This service stated that What3Words (W3W) would allow individuals to provide emergency personnel with their exact whereabouts when assistance is required. This complimentary application operates on a grid system, segmenting the globe into three-by-three-metre squares, each assigned a distinct three-word address. A spokesperson for the fire service commented: “If you download What3Words, you’ll be ready to give us an exact location if you run into trouble.” The spokesperson elaborated, stating: “When calling 999, ‘where is the emergency?’ is one of the first questions you’re asked, but describing exactly where help is needed can be difficult.” By accessing one’s location within the W3W app, a distinct three-word description of the individual’s position is generated, which can then be communicated to emergency services. For instance, within the W3W application, the fire service’s main office is identified as ‘returns.managed.defender’, and the entry point of the Jersey General Hospital is designated ‘same.sprain.announce’. The spokesperson for the fire service noted that the shorter daylight hours of winter, coupled with severe weather phenomena such as rain, ice, sleet, and fog, elevate the likelihood of individuals encountering difficulties. They further stated: “Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time – whether that’s along the Five Mile Road, on a remote green lane in Grouville, or on one of our beautiful cliff paths along the north coast.” The spokesperson also mentioned that depending on descriptions based on landmarks could prolong response times in critical situations. For updates, follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.