App quickens EMAS ambulance response times

More and more people are downloading a free location app which has divided the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words – a what3words address.

EMAS has been using the system for 18 months and credits it with helping record an average response time -from when a call connects with its 999 switchboard to when the EMD (emergency medical dispatcher) confirms the address - of 3 minutes 39 seconds for the 386 reported incidents where it was used.

Richard Hunter, ambulance operations manager for EMAS, said; ‘‘It can cost precious time trying to locate a caller which can dramatically change the outcome of an emergency.

“Our utilisation of what3words has proven to be invaluable when getting to our casualties, especially falls or walking injuries.

“This summer, with lots more people having staycations, we’re asking the public to download the app to help us find them.”

EMAS reported that more than a quarter of incidents where w3w was used were RTC’s (Road Traffic Collisions) (26 per cent).

Nearly one in five what3words calls to EMAS were for falls or walking injuries (17.5 per cent).

Similar to the national picture, five per cent of calls where what3words was helpful were to respond to concerns for a person’s welfare.