Technology such as satellite navigation has made it easier than ever to locate an address. However, arriving in the right area does not necessarily mean that a property can be easily identified, particularly when there is no clearly visible house number.
Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity Services Group, is reminding homeowners that clearly displaying their house number is an important part of being prepared for an emergency.
When emergency responders struggle to identify a property, valuable time can be lost. In situations involving a fire, medical emergency or criminal incident, even a short delay in locating the correct address can have serious consequences.
“When you call for emergency assistance in the event of a fire, medical emergency or criminal incident, one of the dispatcher’s priorities is to establish where the emergency is taking place. Your address is naturally very important, as this information is relayed to the relevant emergency service, such as the fire department, police or ambulance,” she says.
“It is crucial that responders can find your property easily and quickly. They can only do this if you have a clearly visible house number displayed. It is not ideal to have someone waiting outside to flag down an emergency vehicle because there is no visible house number or because finding the property is confusing.”
10 ways to make sure your house number is easy to find
- Check its visibility: Stand on the street and look at your property to determine whether your house number is clearly visible to passers-by, both during the day and at night
. - Consider properties set back from the road: If your home cannot be seen from the street, ensure the house number is clearly displayed at the entrance to your driveway or on the curb
. - Clearly mark shared driveways: If multiple homes use the same driveway, ensure all addresses are visible at the entrance and again at each individual property
. - Use large, easy-to-read numbers: Avoid small or difficult-to-read numbering
. - Place numbers prominently: Display your house number in a prominent position on the perimeter of the property. Depending on the size and layout of the property, more than one house number may be necessary
. - Consider alternative locations: A post box, above the garage door or on the curb can also be suitable locations for displaying your house number
. - Use contrasting colours: Ensure the colour of the house number contrasts with the wall or background so that it is easy to see
. - Keep numbers unobstructed: Trim back foliage, trees or other vegetation that could obscure your house number
. - Maintain your signage: Check for wear and tear and replace house-number signage that has become faded, damaged or difficult to read
. - Ask for advice: Your security company can provide advice on where best to display your house number. Community Policing Forum structures and similar community initiatives may also assist with painting house numbers on curbs, often for a small donation.
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Corner properties can present an additional challenge. If your property has entrances on two different streets, make sure both entrances are clearly marked. Where an entrance is located on another street, the full address should be displayed to avoid confusion, Hattingh advises.
She also encourages homeowners to make checking their house number part of their regular home maintenance and security routine.
Hattingh concludes that the public should remember that emergency services personnel are dedicated to saving lives and protecting property.
“The job of a paramedic, firefighter, armed reaction officer or police officer comes with significant responsibility in emergency situations, and they often come under scrutiny when things go wrong.
We believe the public has a duty to do everything possible to assist these services in carrying out their jobs diligently and within the shortest possible time in an emergency. Any hindrance – such as a property without a clearly visible house number – can be an obstacle to these services carrying out their critical work.
Making sure your house number is clearly visible is a simple step that takes very little effort, but it could make a significant difference when every second counts.”
Issued by Fidelity Services Group – charnelh@fidelity-services.com
