LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A simple, inexpensive fix could make a life-saving difference during an emergency: making sure your house numbers are clearly visible.
Edie Sherwood, co-owner of Area Wide Home Inspections, says those small details can matter when police, firefighters, or EMS are racing to the right address.
“Those two-and-a-half seconds could be the difference between a good outcome and a negative outcome,” Sherwood said.
Robert and Edie Sherwood own Area Wide, a home inspection company. They believe visible home numbers are crucial for safety, especially because many people don’t think about it until they need help.
“I think it’s that it’s not on people’s radar,” Sherwood said. “And unfortunately, it’s not going to be on your radar unless and until something happens and you are in need of emergency services.”
Sherwood adds that even with modern technology such as GPS, house numbers remain a tried-and-true tool for first responders.
“And I know a lot of people like to think, technology is so rock solid, but not always,” she said. “If there is a very serious event, they’re not going to have that option to fall back on.”
Lubbock police and firefighters: “Clearly visible numbers play a vital role”
The Lubbock Police Department encourages residents to make sure house and apartment unit numbers can be seen easily.
“The Lubbock Police Department encourages all citizens to have clearly visible house and apartment unit numbers at their respective residences,” the department said in a statement.
Police say clear numbers help prevent delays when officers are responding to emergency calls.
“Clearly visible numbers play a vital role as our officers are responding to emergency calls when valuable seconds are at stake and could prevent the increase of response time,” the statement said.
LPD also recommends providing additional details when calling for help, including cross streets, landmarks, and descriptions of the location.
“In the instance that a citizen requires officers’ assistance, it is important to give the physical address of their location as well as any nearby cross streets, major landmarks, the color of the house/apartment/building and direction of travel,” the statement said.
Lubbock Fire Rescue echoed that message, saying clear numbers help confirm crews are at the right place even when dispatch provides an address.
“Every second matters during an emergency, whether that be a medical emergency or fire incident,” statement from Lubbock Fire Rescue said. “Clear visible house numbers help firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement locate the correct address as quickly as possible.”
Fire officials say quick identification can impact outcomes in a wide range of emergencies.
“Fast identification of a home can make a difference in fires, cardiac arrests, strokes, traumatic injuries, and other life-threatening emergencies,” LFR said.
“Even if 911 dispatch provides the address, we still rely on visible house numbers to confirm we’ve arrived at the correct location,” the statement added.
Building officials say numbers are checked on new homes, but education is key
Lubbock Assistant Building Official Whitley Green says inspectors look for home numbers during the building process, but the city often focuses on education.
“We may not necessarily fail them or give them a red tag during that process, but we can certainly try to educate them,” Green said, “just pretty much telling them the importance of having it.”
A simple check: step across the street
Sherwood recommends homeowners do a quick visibility test: walk or drive across the street and see if your numbers are easy to spot during the day and at night.
She says it’s a small investment that can make first responders’ jobs easier.
Sherwood says upgrading or replacing numbers can cost around $15 to $20, and she calls it another way to support police, firefighters and EMS.
“That makes their jobs so much easier,” Sherwood said.
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