Visible address vital in an emergency

Bill Wilson

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009 | 1 a.m.

Bill Wilson

A properly displayed address is critical to providing emergency services. If your property has small, obscured, or otherwise unreadable address numbers take heed. The fire department police or paramedics can't locate your home or business quickly in an emergency if your address numbers are not displayed, illuminated, or clear of shrubs and trees. Precious moments can be lost, perhaps meaning the difference between life and death. The following are suggestion from your Boulder City Fire Department.

• First, go out to the front of your property and from the street view your address numbers. Are they readable? Are they Big enough? The Bigger the better. Can they be seen at night? Illuminated numbers are always advantageous.
• Cut back bushes and trees away from numbers.
• If your home or business sits on two streets you may want numbers displayed from two sides.
• If 911 is called and you are able, designate someone to stand out on the sidewalk to flag down emergency responders.
• Turning on your porch light is always a good idea.

Bill Wilson, a firefighter-paramedic for the Boulder City Fire Department, can be reached at 293-9228.