How do you tell your location to 999?

What3Words and Google Maps co-ordinates are useful. However, you should consider being able to go more low tech than that. Reception can be awkward in some areas. You'll get a phone call going but data is going to be tricky. You don't want to fiddling with your phone in an emergency, you want to be able to make the connection to emergency services as quick as possible. Also, you may not be in a position to stay where you are or you might be trying to do a bit of first aid on yourself or someone else or you may just be in a bit of panic or shock. Know some things about where you are. 1 - The name of the area you are in. Start big, i.e. city or town and work down through neighbourhood (in or have recently passed through) and last large road junction. You don't need to spend a lot of time over this, just as you are walking, make that mental note as you pass by things. 2 - The postcode area. It helps avoid confusion and these are increasingly noted on street signs, partly for this very reason. 3 - The name of the street you are currently on. Awkwardly, these have a habit of changing at various unmarked points, especially for larger roads. But once you have given the above, it gives emergency services something to work with. 4 - Detail. What can you see around you which is either unique or less common. Streets can see or have recently passed. House or building numbers and names. Shops or a building. A sign to a place or amenity. A park. A post box. An electrical or telephone distribution box. Now, once you've connected with 999 and have started giving information about the emergency you're having, yourself, and some or all of the above, you can supersede things with What3Words or Google Maps locations. No one is going to get in a huff that you could have given them better location information earlier. There's no benefit to taking the time to work out where you are, the first and most important thing is to call 999 and tell them what the emergency is. If you already some of the above information in mind when you call, especially 1 & 2, they can start the dispatch process.