You know where you are, but will emergency responders find you?

A local volunteer firefighter / EMT suggested I write about the importance of homeowners posting 911 numbers on their property. This means visibly posting the property’s street number so police and other responders can locate the property in an emergency.

Is there anything more important to our communities than public safety? Don’t we all have expectations, such as timeliness, after dialing 911? If my family were needing police assistance, I would sure hope top-shot Kate could find the house.

My friend’s story. Recently, a local ambulance was called to an address. Sort of. The ambulance was unable to locate said residence due to the lack of 911 house numbers. The fire department was called out to assist.As we all know, many of our neighborhoods have numerous driveways off side roads.

Unfortunately, the patient was not the caller. The actual caller was out of the area and unable to help with directions.

The volunteers worked together and, while staying in radio contact, searched dozens of driveways until finally finding the right one. All this at 2 a.m.

Since my friend’s suggestion, I have heard of a similar, though not as lengthy, search for an address by a responding ambulance. The call was for a female with a “sinkable” episode.

These calls can be of great concern to an ambulance crew. Thoughts that might go through an EMT’s mind…

Did she fall on the ice (in season, of course)? Suffer a head injury? A stroke? Did she faint? (Though fainting can seem minor, it’s not always the case.)

When the pressure is on these volunteer EMS providers, I imagine all sorts of scenarios go through their minds.

Fortunately this particular house and patient were found fairly quickly.

Once inside the house, an EMS responder told the owner, “Do me a favor and get some 911 numbers posted.”

The homeowner replied, “Oh okay… I’ve only lived here a year.”

Regardless of how long you’ve lived at a residence, please make it a priority to post visible numbers for 911. Make them large and reflective.

Another valid suggestion for homeowners of rental houses is to post a conspicuous sign in a couple places around the home. With the prevalence of cell phone use, don’t assume the callers will be using your landline. And in the heat of the moment, renters can forget whom they rented from. If they used an agent, a renter may not know the actual owner.

Years ago, there was a bumper sticker printed in an attempt to promote volunteerism.

It said, “What if you dialed 911 and no one responded?”

A new version could be “What if you dialed 911 and they couldn’t find your house?”

Whether it’s cardiac arrest, a choking child, an asthma attack or a stranger on your porch at 1 a.m., time will likely be  important.

On the plus side, a speedy response can be assured by calling Morin’s Sign Shop or another place that specializes in inexpensive numerical signs.

“I don’t like how those large yellow 911 house numbers look on my siding.”

Try to envision your family or friends needing help in an emergency!

Do our local police, volunteer EMS and Firefighting personnel a “favor.” Help them help us. Take the time to post an address sign on your house or at the end of your long driveway…

Just a thought.