The First Thing Paramedics Look For When They Turn Onto Your Street

It is not your house. It is your number.

Ask a paramedic what slows them down most on a call and the answer is rarely traffic. It is house numbers they cannot read from the truck at night.

The two-second test

Stand at the curb after dark and look at your house. If you cannot read the number from there, neither can they. Numbers should be at least four inches tall, in a color that contrasts with the wall, and lit or reflective.

The mailbox trap

Numbers on a mailbox help only if the mailbox is at the driveway they will turn into. On a shared drive or a corner lot, put a second set at the door.

Porch light on

When you call for help, turn on every outside light and send someone to the end of the driveway if you can. It is the single cheapest minute you can save.