Did you know that three words could help save your life? You just have to know ‘what3words’.
On Wednesday February 25, 2026, officers from the Peterborough County OPP received a call regarding a snowmobile rider and their passenger who while riding on a trail, lost control after hitting a bump which sent them into a tree. Both parties were thrown from the snowmobile sustaining injuries that required assistance and medical attention. When asked for their location, neither were able to recall the last intersection they passed and had no way to describe where they were. Officers, EMS and Fire were dispatched to a general area, but it took significant effort and over 30 minutes to finally locate them. Fortunately, their injuries were non-life-threatening, and they were assisted of the trail by EMS where they received medical treatment.
Since December of 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Provincial Communications Centres (PCCs) have been using the app ‘what3words’ to help people in need when they are not able to describe, or do not know where they are.
Emergencies can happen anywhere, from an accident along an unmarked stretch of road to an incident at a specific building entrance or industrial area. In an emergency situation, identifying precisely where help is needed is critical in order to get resources to the scene quickly. However, this can be near impossible for a caller to do if they get into trouble in an area with no address, no memorable landmark or an address that simply isn’t good enough to accurately describe where they are. In these moments, emergency services are forced to waste precious time and resources trying to locate the person in need of help. At best, this can be frustrating, and at worst it can waste crucial minutes that could mean the difference between life and death.
Through its global mapping system, the app (what3words) labels every three squared metres with a unique three-word location string which can be converted into latitude and longitude coordinates for entry into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in use at the PCCs. What3words is a free application for iPhones and Android devices that works off the cellphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) or offline without mobile data if the caller already has the mobile app downloaded on their cellular device.
If you’re planning to go out on the trails for a hike, ATV or snowmobile ride, are going to go out on the water this summer for a boat ride, or just want to be able to easily describe where you are, take a minute to download the what3words app. Knowing exactly where you are can greatly assist us in being able to get to you in a time of need.
For more information on the what3words app and the possible uses, visit their website at https://what3words.com/embedded.fizzled.trial
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The Peterborough County OPP values your contribution to building safe communities. If you have information about suspected unlawful activity, please visit Crime Stoppers at: stopcrimehere.ca or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).