Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging people to use the What 3 Words app which helps crews to swiftly locate incidents and carry out rescue operations as quickly as possible.

Every three square metres in the world is allocated a unique three word address by the app. 

This means that fire crews can locate those using the app, even in very remote locations.

On Friday 3 April, at 9:15pm, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a report of a man who had fallen into a water-filled ditch on Newton Hurst Lane, Dapple Heath, near Abbots Bromley.

The caller had the app, meaning it did not take long for rescuers to find the man who appeared to be suffering the effects of exposure to immersion in cold water. 

He was later taken to hospital by paramedics.

At 11:15pm on April 4, the fire service received a report of a fire in the Nethertown area near Rugeley.

The caller was not familiar with the area but was able to use the app to provide a precise location.

advertisement

Crew Manager at Abbots Bromley Fire Station, Gary Fox, said: "The What 3 Words app is invaluable for helping us locate incidents quickly and can save crucial time in an ongoing incident.

"For the gentleman in the water, time was definitely of the essence, as he was not visible from the road to any passing traffic."