When you’re out riding alone, safety becomes your top priority. In addition to your high vis, another vital piece of equipment is your phone. In case of emergency, when you need to call for help, that’s where What3Words comes in handy! When out riding, we can often be out in fields or on bridlepaths, in remote places or rural roads and tracks. Directing someone to your whereabouts if you have had an accident, can be difficult.
The What3Words app divides the whole of the world (mind blowing!) into 3m x 3m squares, each with a unique three-word address. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for equestrians:
How it works? what3words is a geocoding system that divides the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares, each identified by a unique combination of three words. Unique Addressing: Every 3m x 3m square on Earth has a unique three-word address. For example, a location in London might be identified as “apple.banana.orange”.
Precise Location Sharing: Forget vague descriptions like “near a bridge” or “by a farm.” With What3Words, you can share your exact three-word location with emergency services.
Way-Marking Made Easy: Aside from emergency use, you can mark specific spots on your hacking routes using three-word addresses. Whether it’s a scenic viewpoint or a hidden trail, you’ll never lose your way.
Safety First: Save the three words for your stable entrance. In case of an emergency, you’ll be able to guide responders directly to your location when you are at home. 🏡
Emergency Services: It is now well known with over 80 emergency services in the UK now accepting What3Words.
Integration with Other Apps: You can use what3words addresses with other navigation apps like Google Maps. Just enter the three-word address into the what3words app, then tap ‘Navigate’ to open the location in Google Maps.
Offline Functionality: The app can function without a data connection. You can view and navigate to a What3Words address using compass mode even when offline.
Saving lives: Uncover how what3words helped two riders in the UK:
“In Ruislip Woods, London, a rider named Dot fell from her horse, Cookie. A runner named Nigel heard her scream and saw Cookie rearing. Nigel quickly called emergency services and provided the what3words address for their location. Thanks to this precise information, the ambulance arrived within just three minutes. Dot had torn ligaments, a dislocated toe, and a fractured foot, but she was grateful for the quick response that what3words facilitated.
Another rider, Rachel, fell from a horse at a private farm in Rosewell, Scotland. After struggling to describe her location, she shared her what3words address with the emergency call handler. This allowed the Edinburgh & Lothians Ambulance Service to locate her quickly and prioritize her rescue. Rachel had fractured her spine in four places, and the swift response was crucial for her recovery.”
By no means a life-threatening condition, but one of our team (Annette) was out hacking this weekend and used what 3 words to meet up with her friend Matt, and after describing various trees and local landmarks, used W3W to help guide him through the bracken to their meeting place. See picture below.
These examples highlight how what3words can be a lifesaver in emergencies, especially in remote or hard-to-describe location but also a really useful tool for every day use as well as rider safety.
Remember, safety matters, and What3Words provides a simple and effective way to communicate precise locations!
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