In an emergency, the number’s important

In an emergency, the number’s important

In an emergency, every second counts.

Whether it’s a fire, medical, or other urgent situation, the ability for emergency services to quickly find your home can make all the difference. One of the simplest yet most often overlooked ways to help is by making sure your house number is clearly visible from the road.

With mailboxes not being used so much, we put less importance on maintaining them, including the number.

Imagine it’s dark, raining, and emergency responders are trying to find your address. They slow down to look, squinting through the rain, but your house number is faded, hidden by plants, or missing altogether. Valuable time is lost that could mean the difference between a small fire and a devastating loss, or between getting help in minutes instead of precious seconds too late.

It’s something we don’t think about often, but visibility really matters. Your number should be easy to read, even in poor lighting or bad weather.

Here are a few quick tips to make sure your house number is doing its job:

• make it big and bold at least 10cm high so it can be read from the road

• use a contrasting colour – black on white, or white on dark colours

• keep it clear – trim bushes or trees blocking the view

• light it up to ensure it’s visible at night, or use reflective numbers.

For rural homes, it’s especially important that the Rapid (Rural Address Property Identification) number is clearly displayed at the entrance to your driveway and not obstructed by plants or signs. Emergency services rely heavily on these markers to find properties quickly.

Emergency crews all agree that being able to spot your address easily from the road can save vital time when every moment matters. When you call 111, your address is passed through to the responding crew, but even with GPS, visual confirmation is key. Crews need to see your number clearly to pull up to the right property without delay.

This is a small action that makes a big difference, not only for your own safety but for your neighbours, too. If you notice a friend or family member’s house number is missing or hard to see, encourage them to fix it. You might even lend a hand repainting a faded number or clearing a few branches.

So, take a moment this week to step outside and look at your house from the road. Can you see your number clearly from both directions? If not, now’s the time to make it right. Because when help is on the way, you want to make sure they can find you fast.