this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024
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Privacy

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Calling emergency from a private phone (lemmy.world)
submitted 20 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) by David2003@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.world
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You're hiking in the mountains or forest with your phone's GPS location turned off for privacy reasons. Suddenly, you find yourself in a medical emergency in a remote, unfamiliar location. You don't know where you are. You urgently need to call for help, but you're worried that without a precise location, emergency responders won't be able to reach you in time. What do you do then?

Does What3Words app respect user privacy?

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[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 6 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Cell phones enable location when you make an emergency call. This can't be disabled.

That said, not all 911 systems automatically capture this data, yet.

Also, I wouldn't rely on this. If you have a concern for accurate location for rescue, you'd be doing a lot of other things first, because I assume you are engaged in serious back-country hiking.

I do marginal back-country, on well-known trails. But I leave info about my plans at the trailhead, give similar info to friends, including when to start worrying. A radio that does GMRS and HAM are part of my pack, along with gear for overnight (including food and fire starting gear). GMRS can be useful if emergency personnel are within maybe a mile, or in the same valley, of if the region has GMRS repeaters on visible high ground.

TL:DR - don't rely on cell tech for rescue comms.