With the school summer holidays now underway across the UK, parents are being strongly advised to ensure their children are well-versed in what to do during an emergency. Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance pilot Simon Gough has highlighted the critical importance of children knowing how to contact emergency services and accurately convey their location, especially when engaged in outdoor activities.
Mr Gough underscored that precise location information can significantly reduce response times, which is vital in life-threatening situations. He cited a recent incident involving a 15-year-old who used the what3words app to guide a helicopter to his injured friend in a rural area. This technology, which divides the world into 3-metre squares identified by unique three-word combinations, is increasingly recommended by emergency services for its accuracy, particularly in locations without clear street addresses.
Research commissioned by what3words revealed a concerning gap in children's emergency knowledge. The study indicated that three in ten children do not know the emergency services number, 999, and over a third are unable to reliably recite their home address. These statistics highlight a potential vulnerability for children, particularly as they spend more time outdoors and potentially unsupervised during the summer break.
Families are being encouraged to have calm, practical conversations with their children about emergency scenarios. This includes rehearsing what to say on the phone to a 999 operator and ensuring children understand how to use location tools like what3words. Parents are advised to know the three-word address for their home, as well as any holiday accommodation, to assist emergency responders in locating them quickly. The NHS recommends calling 999 for medical emergencies, which are situations where someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
The incident highlighted by Mr Gough involved 15-year-old Henry, who, drawing on his Scout training, calmly assisted his 12-year-old friend Dom after a mountain biking accident in woodland. Despite initial challenges with mobile signal, Henry and assisting dog walkers were able to contact 999 and provide their exact location using what3words. The rapid response, with the air ambulance landing just four minutes after the call, proved crucial for Dom, who had sustained a concussion and a bleed on his liver, but has since made a full recovery.