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Emergency services

Ordnance Survey data is key to the work of the emergency services and health professionals. From highly detailed street-level mapping to an accurate overview of a region, our digital geographic data provides vital location intelligence for:

  • command and control
  • incident response
  • identification of risk
  • contingency planning

The following Category One responders use Ordnance Survey products to provide their essential services in response to a call to 999:

Ambulance

When an emergency call is made to an ambulance command and control centre, time is of the essence as life is at stake. Ambulance crews need to know exactly where they need to go and the quickest route there. They also need to know the quickest and least congested route to the nearest hospital with appropriate facilities.

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Fire

When responding to an emergency callout, fire teams need to know the exact location of the incident. Sending attending officers to the wrong site wastes precious time, prolonging a fire and even risking lives.

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Police

When responding to an emergency callout, police teams need to know the exact location of the incident. Sending attending officers to the wrong site wastes precious time, prolonging a crime and even risking lives.

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HM Coastguard

When responding to an emergency along cliffs and on beaches, coastguards need to know the exact location of the incident. If the helicopters, coastguard rescue teams or lifeboats, which the coastguard sends to the scene, have to spend precious time searching, there might be a risk of further injury or worse.

Emergency search and rescue

Search and rescue organisations, both land and maritime based, are also called upon to provide life saving support during an emergency.

Learn more about UK search and rescue here.

How do I join the PSMA?

If you are based in England or Wales and you organisation has not yet taken advantage of joining the public sector mapping agreement, why not join using the link below.

Join the PSMA

How do I join the OSMA?

If you are located in Scotland and wish to join a mapping agreement, please email the OSMA helpdesk to start your membership application using button below.

Join the OSMA

Need more help?

If you have further questions and need additional information, please also visit our support page.

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For general enquiries, complaints, feedback or suggestions, email: customerservices@ordnancesurvey.co.uk or call us on 08456 05 05 05