NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Every second counts in an emergency.
That’s why it’s crucially important for residents to properly post their 911 numbers, says Croton Falls Fire Chief Jeff Daday Jr.
North Salem has had a law regarding street numbers on the books for decades.
It requires building owners to display them either on a building, mailbox, lamp post, sign, pole, or other “suitable stationary device” such as a driveway marker.
“Some people put them on their house, but if they have long driveways, we can’t see them,” Daday explained.
The intent is to help first responders such as firefighters, police, and ambulance crews find folks in time to save both lives and property.
The numbers should be a minimum three inches and a maximum four inches tall.
The mailbox, post, or pole has to be placed in a “prominent and conspicuous” place and the numbers should be at least three feet and not greater than four feet from ground level.
Residents of the hamlet of Croton Falls do not have home delivery, so mailboxes are obviously out.
They have to be “plainly legible” from the center of the street at all times between sunrise and sunset and at least three inches tall and no greater than four inches tall.
The color of the numbers needs to sharply contract with the color of their background. Reflective numbers would be good, but aren’t required.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s pink and purple, just so we can read them,” Daday said.
If displayed on a building, the numbers must be on the side that faces the street.
The numbers have to be placed in a way that they will not be obstructed by trees, shrubbery, and porches or other building extensions.
When possible, they should be located near a light source so they can be seen at night.
If the building on which the number is to be displayed is more than 15 feet from the edge of the right-of-way, whether improved or not, of the street or road, the number must be placed, again, on a mailbox, lamppost, sign, pole, or other “suitable stationary device” on the property “nearest the driveway and readily visible from the road or street.”
It should NOT be farther back than 15 feet from the road or street.
The town can levy fines if someone hasn’t displayed 9-1-1 numbers, but that’s something it really doesn’t want to do
“We just want to make sure that the folks that need help, get help,” he explained.
Older first responders who are more familiar with the town may know where some homes are, but newer volunteers might not.
Asked for an example of where a poorly placed, or absent, 9-1-1 signage resulted in the loss of people and/or property in North Salem, Daday said that – "fortunately" -- he couldn’t think of a good one off the top of his head.
However, in no way does that discount the importance of a swift response. If emergency crews can’t find folks, they can’t help them.
There’s a term often used by first responders: the “Golden Hour.” It describes the first 60 minutes after a traumatic injury when prompt medical care can significantly improve the chances of a patient’s survival.
North Salem first responders recently saved someone who’d had a medical episode while at a local horse farm, he said
“They call it the golden hour and it really is,” said Daday, adding: That’s our purpose; to help and give assistance.
Volunteers Needed
The Croton Falls Fire Department can always use more volunteers.
For information about joining, visit www.crotonfallsfire.com and click on the tab “Join CFFD” on the left side of the page.
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