Outdoor enthusiasts are lauding a mobile app that aided an injured snowmobiler in receiving prompt medical assistance just outside Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan last week. Holly Nichols, part of a group of eight snowmobilers, was traveling north on a trail about 40 kilometers outside Sault Ste. Marie when the lead driver collided with a snowmobiler heading south.
Recognizing her friend’s injuries and the need for medical help, Nichols used her phone to call 911. Since they were in a remote area far from main roads, she also utilized the “what3words” app. This app utilizes a geocode system dividing the world into three-meter squares, each assigned a unique three-word address.
During the 911 call, Nichols provided the three words to pinpoint their exact location to first responders. The app’s offline GPS capability was crucial in the rescue, as cell service was poor. Within 30 minutes of the call, first responders arrived, including a conservation officer, Pickford Fire Department, and Northern EMS Authority.
After about 10 minutes, the injured snowmobiler was loaded onto a medical coach pulled by an ATV and taken to the hospital. Fortunately, the scan showed no serious injuries, and the individual was released the same night. Nichols, the secretary of the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association, emphasized the importance of the what3words app for emergencies.
The app, in use globally for 13 years, has been increasingly adopted by emergency services in Canada and the U.S. Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been utilizing it for several years, streamlining their response to emergencies. Sgt. David Doucette mentioned that dispatchers often ask lost or injured individuals to download the app for accurate location sharing, facilitating quicker assistance.
Nichols, having used the app for recreational purposes previously, highlighted the need for increased awareness among outdoor enthusiasts about the app’s potential benefits.