A Message from the Jerome Police Department - Post Your Address Numbers
An emergency telephone call was made to the 911 Center, the caller then hung up on the 911 operator. The 911 operator called the telephone number back, when the telephone was answered all the 911 operator could hear was a heated disturbance in the background.
The 911 operator dispatched Officer Kennedy and I to the address that matched the telephone number. Upon arrival we could not locate the address. Two of the homes did not have an address displayed. No one was home at one of the houses, the other home was vacant and under construction.
Where was the person that had called 911 and needed emergency assistance?
Thanks to the diligent work of the 911 operator the person requesting assistance was located on the east end of Springfield and the police were dispatched to the correct address.
It turned out the person requesting emergency assistance had moved and not updated their billing and cellular telephone information with their provider.
Seconds count during life threatening emergencies.
But what if it was a life-threatening medical emergency or you needed law enforcement or the fire department immediately and these agencies were delayed in responding to you because they could not locate your house? The outcome could be very different. Unfortunately, this is a situation encountered almost daily by one of our emergency response agencies. A lot of houses are not clearly marked with an address.When night falls take your standard flashlight and stand in front of your home. Shine the flashlight on your home. Can you locate your house number? If you can't see the numbers we can't see them either!
For your protection you should:
Post your address numbers on your house of a minimum of three(6) inches in height so as to be seen easily from the road in front of your home.
Use address numbers set on a background of a contrasting color.
Use plain block numbers.
Post your address numbers of at least six (6) inches in height on the front of the building facing the road or on the end of the building nearest the road if living in a multiple dwelling unit or nonresidential building.
Post your address numbers facing the street named in the address if your house is located on a corner lot.
The cost of address numbers is minimal especially when you consider that this simple intervention could safe-guard you and your family in the event an emergency response is ever needed at your home. The Tele-communicators at radio communications and the Jerome Police Department want Emergency personnel to get to you quickly.
Thanks,
Sergeant Dan Skaggs
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