Nothing like a hike in the woods this time of year, but what if you got lost during your outing?
Well, there's an app for that.
A 46-year-old man found out thanks to a quick-thinking 911 dispatcher when he called the emergency line for help around 6:30 pm Thursday night to report he was lost in Scanlon Creek Conservation Area on Line 9 in Bradford.
He told the dispatcher that his cell phone battery was running low.
The dispatcher immediately assisted him in downloading the what3words app to his phone, and he gave three unique words for his location.
No sooner had he done that and his phone went dead.
Just over an hour later, South Simcoe Police with assistance from their Barrie counterparts who used a drone to aid in the search, the Bradford resident was found in good condition.
More information about the app:
In an emergency situation, the what3words geolocating app will help communicators pinpoint the caller's whereabouts so that officers can quickly respond to where help is needed. The app is to be used when a street address is unavailable. A municipal address is still the best way to ensure a quick response. Every three metre square in the world has been given a unique combination of three words: a what3words address. The system can be used via the free app for both iOS and Android or via the online map at what3words.comand is available in over 40 languages. The app works offline, making it ideal for use in the rural areas of Canada that might have a poor or unreliable internet connection.
