Hard to Find is Hard to Help

The Emergency Measures Organization is celebrating the third anniversary of provincewide 911 service. To mark the occasion, the organization is asking Nova Scotians to ensure their civic number is posted where it can be seen by emergency responders.

With the exception of those made from cellular phones, calls to 911 are accompanied by information that tells the call takers and emergency agencies the exact location of the emergency. But that is only half of the equation. Individual home- and businessowners have the responsibility of posting their civic address so it can be clearly seen from the roadway, day or night.

"Obviously, any delay in locating the emergency site jeopardizes response efforts," said Jamie Muir, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act. "Police, firefighters and paramedics continually express their frustration at driving up and down dark, rural roads at night looking for a particular house. Civic numbers posted at the roadway definitely cut down on response time - and potentially save lives."

The Emergency Measures Organization has a set of civic addressing suggestions which are available to the public. For example, civic numbers should be in Arabic numerals and should clearly contrast the background colour of the building or sign. Reflective white numbers on a blue or black sign work well. Civic numbers should be posted at least 1.2 metres from the ground.

The organization also recommends that Nova Scotians display their civic address inside the house as well, preferably close to the telephone. This practice will enable visitors to the house, who place a call to 911, to confirm the civic address with the call taker.

Nova Scotians can access more than 400 emergency agencies through the 911 emergency reporting service. In the first three years of provincewide operation, 911 call takers have handled in excess of 650,000 calls.

To confirm your civic address or to request a copy of the suggestions for posting civic numbers, please call 902-424-5620 or visit the website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo .

NOTE TO EDITORS: A copy of the Emergency Measures Organization's suggestions for posting civic numbers follows.

911 Civic Addressing: Suggestions for Posting Civic Numbers

• Civic numbers should be in Arabic numerals.

• The distance between the bottom of the numbers and the ground should be at least 1.2 metres.

• The colour of the numbers should clearly contrast the background colour of the building or sign (e.g. white numbers on a black or blue background).

• Numbers should be placed on the building facing, and clearly visible from, the roadway.

• If numbers displayed on the building cannot be easily read from the roadway, post them on a sign. The posted sign should be on the property within five metres of the boundary between the property and the road. The sign should be facing, and be clearly visible from, the roadway.

• If the civic number sign (either on the building or on a post) are within 15 metres of the roadway, the number should not be less than 65 millimetres in height.

• If the numbers are posted on a building more than 15 metres from the roadway, the numbers should not be less than 100 millimetres in height.

• To determine your civic address, or for questions about Nova Scotia's province-wide 911 service, call 902-424-5620.