Save a life with What Three Words

Monday, 10 March 2025 15:45

By David Murphy

Life-saving signage has been placed at several water safety ‘hot spots’ across the borough of Rochdale.

The new signs show how to give emergency services the precise location of the areas using the What Three Words system.

Anyone needing assistance can use the unique combination of three words to allow emergency services to locate them quickly where addresses do not currently exist, such as in parks and rural areas. The signs also have a QR code to download the app for free for future use.

What Three Words locations can be shared easily over text, radio or digitally, minimising any errors when details are passed between teams and agencies.

Councillor Daalat Ali, joint deputy leader and cabinet member for public health said: “The number of water related incidents in the borough is alarming, in the last six months we have sadly seen three water-related deaths. It’s good to be working with partner agencies, such as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the Water Safety Partnership, to promote this initiative and help pin point exactly where the area is in case of an emergency and increasing the accuracy of the area.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service watch manager Andy Dunham leads the local water safety partnership. He said: “Knowing the What Three words for hot spots can save a lot of time and in turn lives. The emergency services accept the What Three Word addresses from callers who would otherwise struggle to say exactly where they need help and has helped find many people in need of emergency assistance quickly and easily. It’s great to see that these signs have been placed in the borough of Rochdale’s hot spots as we head into the summer months where water safety precautions are very important.”

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