Safety Tip

Midnight in Falcon: A resident is experiencing severe chest pain and difficulty breathing. Someone calls 911. Firefighters and an ambulance crew immediately respond.They turn onto the residentís street only to realize that the house numbers they were given donít correspond to any of the numbers they can see. They quickly consult the dispatch center, knowing that every passing second can literally mean the difference between life and death.The dispatcher says, ìThe calling party says you already passed the house.îEmergency crews turn around, frustrated. The lack of clear address markings has cost them (and the patient) precious time. When they finally arrive at the right house, which did not have address markings at all, a family member asks, ìWhat took you so long?îUnfortunately, this type of scenario is not uncommon in the rural areas of Falcon and other eastern plains communities. Emergency personnel work hard to learn the roads in their districts, and they have both digital mapping programs and good old-fashioned map books at their disposal. But these information tools do little good when address numbers are illegible, obscured by weeds or bushes, or are missing altogether.Here are some tips to help emergency responders:

• House numbers should be clearly visible from the road at all times of day and in all weather conditions.
• Numbers should be at least 3 inches high, reflective and visible from both directions on the road.
• Numbers should be colored to contrast with their background.
• Homes located on a shared driveway should have signs posted to indicate which house number belongs to each property. Use as many signs as necessary.
• If the mailbox is not located next to the propertyís driveway, install additional address numbers at the entrance.
• Properties that are addressed on one street but accessible from a different street should have clear signage in both locations.

Falcon firefighters ask residents to take a few minutes to ensure their addresses can be easily seen.One option: Residents of the Falcon Fire Protection District can take advantage of its address sign program. For a $20 donation, FFPD personnel will install a durable, all-weather address sign at a residentís driveway entrance. (Note: The donation merely covers the cost of materials and installation of the address sign; the district does not make a profit.)To request an address sign, download a form at the FFPD website (http://falconfirepd.org) or pick one up from FFPD headquarters located at 7030 Old Meridian Road. Firefighters also carry these forms on their apparatus. Return the completed form and payment to FFPD headquarters in person or by mail. Once the sign is made, firefighters will install the sign at the property.