(Miami Beach, FL) - Miami Beach emergency dispatchers are the first in South Florida to use an app that helps to quickly locate 911 callers unfamiliar with their surroundings with GPS-level accuracy.

“Every second counts in an emergency. What3Words helps our first responders find people faster,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “Now our dispatchers can pinpoint locations with incredible precision — even in parks or beaches where street addresses aren’t clear. This will help us save lives.”

Dispatchers use the "What3Words" app by texting or emailing a link to a 911 caller that converts the geographic coordinates of the caller into three English words. The words, separated by periods, actually correspond to a specific address.

A caller will be asked to read three words aloud in the same order provided by the app. The words are converted by the app into a precise geographic square measuring 3 by 3 meters.

“What3Words gives us an added advantage in finding people quicker, especially in areas without street addresses or when a caller is disoriented,” said Miami Beach Fire Chief Digna Abello, who oversees the city’s emergency dispatch operations for police, fire and medical calls. “In emergency situations, every second matters and this tool helps us eliminate the guesswork.”

The What3Words app is available for download for free but does not have to be on a person's phone for it to work.

Samuel Ramirez "El Capi"