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Step 1
The first thing you need to do is make sure your street number is clearly visible to emergency responders. Depending on your homeowners regulations you should use as large a font as possible, ideally six inches high or higher, to display your street number. Make sure nothing blocks emergency responders from seeing your house number. Cut back shrubs or limbs to allow for a better view. If your house number is painted on the curb, choose a reflective white paint and re-paint it. This kind of paint is available at hardware stores.
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Step 2
If possible convert your porch light to a three way switch with a flashing light feature. These switches will cause the light to blink on and off when placed in the proper position. This allows for emergency responders to find your home easily when the light is blinking. These switches are also available at hardware stores and online.
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Step 3
If you live in a rural area and do not have any kind of sign that indicates your road, ask your county officials if they can place a 911 system street sign along the highway. These red colored signs help emergency responders find your home if you live in a rural area. If no such local program is available, use reflective paint and in a large font make your own distinctive sign, with your family name or other unique identifier and place it least six foot high and clearly visible where your private road meets the highway.
Finally, if you have to make a 911 call, one of the best ways to help emergency vehicles find your home is to have someone wait at the curb shining a flashlight from side to side as the emergency vehicle approaches. Turn on the emergency flashers of any vehicles parked in the driveway. The minutes or seconds you save in response time by taking these simple steps could save a life.
