By JESSE GRAHAM
WHEN DISASTER strikes, every second counts, and a house that can’t be identified may not be easily accessible for emergency services.
The Rotary Club of Healesville, in conjunction with local emergency services groups, will be selling specially-made house numbers at Healesville Walk Shopping Centre this weekend in an attempt to make houses more identifiable in an emergency.
Rotarian David Lau said the group had been approached by emergency services groups including Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police about the issue, and has come up with a one-size-fits-all option.
The specially-designed reflective house numbers are embedded onto a weather-proof, powder-coated metal shaft, with two lots of numbers facing left and right.
Healesville police Sergeant Stewart Thomson said that police implored people to take the initiative and ensure their house was marked to ensure a quick response.
“Particularly with medical emergencies, every second counts,” Sgt Thomson said.
“It’s not uncommon for an ambulance to miss a house, go down a no-through road, do a u-turn and you’re talking minutes – in the event of a heart attack, you’re looking at potential loss of life.
“I think it’s great that they’ve (Rotary) put together an option for community members to buy which well and truly marks their property.”
He said that it was important for people to ensure emergency services were informed during call-outs if houses were unmarked, or had a name instead or distinct features.
The Rotary Club of Healesville reflective house number signs will be sold for $25 at Healesville Walk Shopping Centre this weekend, or can be organised by calling 5962 6550.
Rotarians will be able to install the signs for aged or disabled pensioners at no extra cost.
