Clear address markings may be essential in emergencies

For the most part, family, friends, neighbors and postal carriers already know where you live.
When someone new is trying to find your home, time is usually not a critical element. If they miss your house, they can always find a phone and call for directions.
But if your address is not clearly visible, it might become a problem for emergency personnel to locate your home quickly.
Fire, ambulance and police crews need to be able to find your home easily and quickly to help you. If your home does not clearly show your address, it can delay vital emergency help to you — or your neighbors.
Minutes can seem like hours when one is waiting for emergency crews to arrive in a time of need. Help them help you by following these guidelines for posting your address on your home or business.
On roadside mailboxes
The larger the numbers, the better. Standing 6 feet away from a mailbox, 1-inch numbers might seem sufficient. However, crews on a fire engine rushing up to help a heart attack patient might have difficulty seeing them.
Be certain decorations or flags do not obstruct numbers. If you live on a through street, an emergency vehicle can approach from either direction, so it’s a good idea to mark both sides of the mailbox.
If your mailbox is not directly in front of your home, mark the box for the benefit of the mail carrier. However, be certain to mark your fence, driveway or home as follows, too, for the sake of emergency personnel.
On the building
Again, the larger the numbers, the better. Because a house is farther from the street than a mailbox or fence, it’s important to use larger numbers. The Ben Lomond Fire Protection District recommends using a minimum of 4-inch block-style numbers, preferably in a reflective material. Fancy script-type numbers are attractive, but they are difficult to read quickly from a distance or in the dark.
Some people paint their address numbers to match their home, thereby effectively camouflaging them. The numbers should be painted to contrast with the background color.
Place numbers above a garage door if it faces the street and is visible, or above or to the side of the main entrance (front door) to your home. These are the most common places to put numbers and are the first places emergency crews look when trying to find your address in a hurry.
Please make your address highly visible. Help us help you in case of an emergency.
Charles Missman is a fire captain serving with the Ben Lomond Fire Protection District.