Hikers in Western Massachusetts Stumble Upon Life-Saving Smartphone App During Bizarre Rescue.
When two hikers found themselves stranded in the woods on Saturday night, they had no trouble pinpointing their location - thanks to a smartphone app. The what3words app, which uses unique three-word combinations to define every 3-meter-square space globally, proved crucial to rescuers as it provided precise coordinates for the pair's exact location.
According to authorities, standard GPS signals were unable to get a reading due to dense foliage and signal interference in the area. However, the hikers had downloaded the what3words app beforehand and utilized its unique system to share their exact location with the rescue teams. This led to a much faster response time for the authorities.
Search efforts were coordinated despite the challenging weather conditions, which included cold temperatures, rain, and darkness. As a result, officials made contact with the hikers at 8:51 p.m. and managed to extract them from the woods by 9:15 p.m. The rescue operation involved multiple teams from various departments, including fire services, police, and technical rescue units.
The Westfield Fire Department has stressed the importance of having a backup navigation system in case GPS fails. The what3words app works offline as long as it is pre-downloaded on a phone, providing users with an added layer of security for their outdoor adventures.
When two hikers found themselves stranded in the woods on Saturday night, they had no trouble pinpointing their location - thanks to a smartphone app. The what3words app, which uses unique three-word combinations to define every 3-meter-square space globally, proved crucial to rescuers as it provided precise coordinates for the pair's exact location.
According to authorities, standard GPS signals were unable to get a reading due to dense foliage and signal interference in the area. However, the hikers had downloaded the what3words app beforehand and utilized its unique system to share their exact location with the rescue teams. This led to a much faster response time for the authorities.
Search efforts were coordinated despite the challenging weather conditions, which included cold temperatures, rain, and darkness. As a result, officials made contact with the hikers at 8:51 p.m. and managed to extract them from the woods by 9:15 p.m. The rescue operation involved multiple teams from various departments, including fire services, police, and technical rescue units.
The Westfield Fire Department has stressed the importance of having a backup navigation system in case GPS fails. The what3words app works offline as long as it is pre-downloaded on a phone, providing users with an added layer of security for their outdoor adventures.