What3Words: Helping Us Locate You Faster in Emergencies

Sudbury’s large and geographically diverse landscape makes accurate location information essential during emergencies. What3Words is a global addressing system that divides the world into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each one a unique combination of three words. This simple system makes it easier to describe exactly where help is needed.

The Greater Sudbury Police 911 Emergency Communications Centre has adopted What3Words to improve dispatch accuracy and reduce response times. The tool has already proven effective in the United Kingdom and Australia, where emergency services have used it to locate crash victims, people trapped by flooding, lost hikers, kidnap victims, and others in life‑threatening situations.

In many emergencies, callers struggle to describe their location—especially in rural areas, remote trails, or places without clear landmarks or addresses. By providing three words, callers can be located with a high degree of accuracy, allowing dispatchers to send help faster.

How to Use What3Words

What3Words is available:

  • As a free app on iOS and Android
  • Through the online map at what3words.com

The app works offline once downloaded, making it ideal for rural areas with poor or unreliable connectivity. Because of this, we strongly encourage community members to download it in advance.

If a caller does not have the app, 911 call takers can send them an SMS link to open What3Words online—provided the caller has cellular service.

Additional Uses

Beyond emergencies, residents use What3Words to:

  • Meet friends in places without formal addresses
  • Navigate trails, beaches, and parks
  • Help runners, hikers, and sailors coordinate precise meeting points
  • Assist hotels, businesses, and events in guiding visitors

Why GSPS Uses What3Words

This system provides greater precision than traditional phone‑location “ping” technology and can help save valuable minutes in an emergency. These minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

The Greater Sudbury Police Service encourages all residents to download the free What3Words app and be prepared to share their three‑word location if they ever need emergency assistance.

Three words can save your life, with the what3words app. Download it today!