3 WORDS APP SAVED TWO ATV RIDERS LOST IN NORTH KAWARTHA WOODS SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

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NORTH KAWARTHA TOWNSHIP — Three little words and 20 minutes later a pair lost ATV riders were quickly located after they veered off a trail here Saturday afternoon.

Police credit the What3Words app for helping them find them after responding to a call from individuals lost in a wooded area in North Kawartha.

Saturday, October 3, just before 12:30 p.m., officers from the Peterborough County OPP were dispatched to a call where two individuals said they were lost on a large rural property off Highway 28 in North Kawartha Township.

The couple had been out on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and had gone off the main trail leaving them unable to get to find their way back.

Officers requested the OPP dispatcher utilize the What3Words app, who after assisting the caller was able to receive the three words from the riders.

When they got them to the couple officers entered the three words into their What3Words app on their phones and were able to locate the lost parties in less than 20 minutes.

The couple were led to the main trail where they were able to safely make their way back to where they started.

The OPP strongly suggests being prepared when hiking or ATVing in wooded areas:

  • ensure you have adequate clothing and footwear,
  • a fully charged cell phone,
  • a flashlight and water.
  • and download the What3words app ahead of time in case you become lost.

Wooded areas are easy to become disoriented in, so if you’re not familiar with the trails, don’t venture out on them when it is getting dark.

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.

Through its global mapping system, the app labels every three squared metres with a unique three-word location string which can be converted into latitude and longitude coordinates.

  • For more information on the what3words app and the possible uses, visit their website at https://what3words.com/embedded.fizzled.trial
The free iPhone and Android app positions the caller within three square metres with satellite help. PHOTO What3Words

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