When contacting 000 in an emergency, location accuracy is critical information for the call taker. The quicker an accurate location is established, the sooner emergency services can be dispatched and render assistance. With the vast majority of Triple Zero (000) calls originating from mobile telephones today, the Emergency+ application is a vital Government initiative to improve public safety and emergency service response times.
Emergency+ is a free application developed by Australia’s emergency services and industry partners. The application works across Australia, using GPS functionality built into smartphones to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency services. First launched in 2013, the application has been downloaded more than 2.2 million times and has provided assistance to people facing an emergency.
The Emergency Plus app now includes ‘what3words’, a software enhancement allowing Triple Zero (000) callers to provide their exact location quickly and accurately with just three words describing the address to assist responding emergency services. Unlike street addresses, “what3words” addresses work offline, so can be used in remote areas with poor data connection. “what3word” addresses are as accurate as GPS coordinates and are simpler than latitude and longitude coordinates.
A new feature that assists with the what3words functionality is the ability for users of Emergency+ to ‘drop a pin’ to fix their location on the application’s map. This enhancement avoids changes in your latitude and longitude co-ordinates or the what3word identifiers during the reporting of an emergency.
The app also includes videos on how to do CPR to equip you with life saving skills.
The app is available for free download via the Apple App Store (https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/emergency-+/id691814685?mt=8) and the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…).
For more information https://www.emergencyplus.com.au/. https://www.triplezero.gov.au/tri…/smartphone-applications.
