How to share a what3words address with emergency services

Using the free what3words app

Open the app and tap the Locate Me icon. The what3words address for your current location will be displayed at the top of the screen.

Read out the three words to your emergency call taker. For example if you’re at /// index.home.raft simply say: ‘My what3words address is index home raft’

The emergency service will use the what3words address to see exactly where you are and send help.

The what3words app works offline – ideal for areas with unreliable data connection.

What is what3words?

what3words has divided the globe into 3m squares and given each one a unique three word identifier. It means any precise location can be communicated with just three words. For example /// lashes.candlelit.earned , will take you to the main pier at Clear Lake Marina, Riding Mountain National Park.
As well as the free app for iOS and Android, what3words is available online at map.what3words.com .

Which services in my province are using what3words?

The following Canadian emergency services have confirmed they are using and accepting what3words addresses:

• Foothills Regional Emergency Services Commission (Alberta)
• Okotoks Fire Departnment (Alberta)
• Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo – 911 Dispatch (Alberta)
• BC Emergency Health Services (British Columbia)
• North Vancouver RCMP (British Columbia)
• Surrey Regional Fire Dispatch (British Colombia)
• The City of Brandon – Manitoba Provincial 911 and Police Dispatch (Manitoba)
• Winnipeg Police Service (Manitoba)
• Bathurst Police Force (New Brunswick)
• Halifax Regional Police (Nova Scotia)
• Barrie Police Service (Ontario)
• Barrie Fire & Emergency Services (Ontario)
• Brampton Fire and Emergency Services (Ontario)
• Burlington Fire Department (Ontario)
• Chatham-Kent Police Service (Ontario)
• Durham Regional Police Service (Ontario)
• Greater Sudbury Police Service (Ontario)
• Guelph Fire Department (Ontario)
• Guelph Police Service (Ontario)
• Haldimand County Fire Department (Ontario)
• Halton Police (Ontario)
• Kawartha Lakes Police Service (Ontario)
• Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service (Ontario)
• Kingston Fire & Rescue (Ontario)
• Kingston Police (Ontario)
• Kingston Central Ambulance Communications Centre (Ontario)
• Lincoln Fire and Rescue Service (Ontario)
• London Police Service (Ontario)
• Niagara Falls Fire Service (Ontario)
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire & Emergency Services (Ontario)
• Niagara West Fire & Emergency Services (Ontario)
• Ontario Provincial Police (Ontario)
• Oshawa Fire Service (Ontario)
• Ottawa Police (Ontario)
• Owen Sound Police Communications Centre (Ontario)
• Peel Regional Police (Ontario)
• Peterborough Police Service (Ontario)
• Peterborough Fire Services (Ontario)
• Sault Ste. Marie Police Service (Ontario)
• St Catharines Fire Service (Ontario)
• Timmins Police Service (Ontario)
• Timmins Central Ambulance Communication Centre (Ontario)
• Toronto Police Service (Ontario)
• Waterloo Regional Police Service (Ontario)
• York Regional Police (Ontario)
• Medavie Health Services West Emergency Medical Services (Saskatchewan)
• Parkland Ambulance (Saskatchewan)
• Saskatchewan Health Authority (Saskatchewan)
• Abitibi-Témiscamingue Emergency Call Center – CAUAT (Quebec)
• Ville de Mont Tremblant Fire and Emergency Services (Quebec)
• Chaudière-Appalaches Emergency Call Center – CAUCA (Quebec)
• Whitehorse Fire Department (Yukon)

If your local service isn’t on this list, you can reach out and ask them if they’ve heard of what3words.

Remember: always gather as much location information as you can in an emergency in case what3words addresses aren’t accepted.