Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

HEALTHY LIVING every second counts
Properly mark your homes and make sure shrubs and trees aren’t covering the numbers in case of emergencies.
LIFESAVING
Clearly marked mailbox and house numbers may save your life story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of AMR
Who would think a mailbox or numbers on a house can save lives? AMR (American
Medical Response) is conducting a campaign to urge residents to include upgrading mailboxes and addresses
as part of spring fix-up plans. They’re asking families and businesses to improve mailbox addresses and building numbers to make them easier for emergency personnel to read.
“Mailbox markings and building numbers are life-saving landmarks for ambulance crews, fire departments and police responding to your emergency,” EMS Chief for AMR Gulf Coast James Carver said. “Delivery services and repair companies can also reach you more easily if the mailbox or building address is readily visible. Spring fix-up is a great time to make sure your numbers are easy to see from the road by day or night.”
AMR gives the following tips to help
public safety responders find houses and other buildings:
• Replace or repaint faded mailbox
addresses and building numbers. • Put family’s last name and street
address on mailbox.
• Use numbers and letters with a color
that contrasts with the background
color.
• Numbers and letters should be at
least four inches high.
• Use numbers and letters that reflect
emergency vehicles’ headlights and
spotlights.
• Mark mailboxes on both sides
because rescuers might not come from the same direction as your mail carrier.
• Cut tall weeds and grass blocking the view of your mailbox.
• Place building numbers where they won’t be blocked by trees, shrubs, hanging baskets, chimes or other objects.
• If your home or building is on a corner, post numbers facing both streets.
•
Do not rely solely on a house or building number painted on the curb or planted in the lawn on a low sign. Also post numbers over the doorway or elsewhere on the building. Parked vehicles, tall grass, leaves and even running water can obstruct rescuers’ view of curb numbers and signs at ground level.
“Emergency crews are expected to know the area they serve very well, and they use GPS technology, detailed maps and the directions a caller gives to the dispatcher, but a clearly marked mailbox or building number is always invaluable,” Carver said. “In a life- threatening emergency, every second is precious to the patient’s survival. Your rescuers can’t help you until they find you.”
124 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2017
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net