After a friend suffered a nearly fatal bee sting last summer, Ron Aubrey is highlighting the need for proper signage when it comes to street addresses.
Mo Pesant was working on AubreyB次元官网网址檚 Metchosin property last July when he was stung by a bee and had to rush to find his EpiPen and antihistamines. He wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to inject his epinephrine before collapsing.
Pesant was lying on the ground unconscious until Aubrey found him. Paramedics revived him on route to hospital. B次元官网网址淏y the time he got the Benedryl in him he passed out before he could take the EpiPen,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said.
While waiting for emergency responders, Aubrey was at the end of his driveway on Metchosin Road.
He heard sirens coming and then they stopped. He was puzzled, but within a few moments the firefighters arrived. Firefighters told Aubrey the mapbook marked his address in a slightly different location.
Aubrey worries that many people in Metchosin have poorly marked address signs, which could slow down emergency responders. Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop said with the bee sting incident, that wasnB次元官网网址檛 the case.
B次元官网网址淲e were not delayed in getting there,B次元官网网址� Dunlop said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes we need to slow down to figure out where we are.B次元官网网址�
But Dunlop agrees with Aubrey that homeowners need to have their address numbers clearly displayed at the entrance to their driveway to help insure a quick response from emergency personnel.
B次元官网网址淪econds count for both medical and fire calls,B次元官网网址� Dunlop said. B次元官网网址淭he signs should be visible on both sides of the road so we can see it. If itB次元官网网址檚 not reflective we canB次元官网网址檛 see it.B次元官网网址�
When 911 calls are dispatched, fire halls are sent a map of the area which is automatically printed out.
In urban areas that can be a useful tool, but in Metchosin, blocks arenB次元官网网址檛 designated and Dunlop said the map is often nothing more than a long line symbolizing the road and a vaguely placed dot for the location.
ItB次元官网网址檚 common in Metchosin for two or three houses to share a driveway. Dunlop stressed the importance all house numbers being visible from the road.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes weB次元官网网址檒l drive and see 722 and then the next number we see is 726. What happened to 724?B次元官网网址� Dunlop said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of us being able to find you.B次元官网网址�
MVFD also told Aubrey that his address sign faces north toward Colwood and is not visible for people travelling north on Metchosin Road.
Aubrey built his large address sign before municipal borders shifted when Metchosin incorporated in 1984.
B次元官网网址淚 thought I had taken the responsibility of a street light and a big sign,B次元官网网址� said Aubrey a retired 20-year veteran of Colwood Fire Rescue and member of Colwood volunteer firefightersB次元官网网址� association.
He also had a streetlight installed on his property to illuminate his sign if anyone needed to find it in the dark.
He is in the process of having a second sign built for his driveway facing the other direction.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 important with a medical emergency for people to find the house,B次元官网网址� Aubrey said. B次元官网网址淭he last thing we need is someoneB次元官网网址檚 life on the line.B次元官网网址�
The MVFD is selling reflective address signs for $25 and will be installed by firefighters. For more information call MVFD at 250-478-1307.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
