Campaign Launched Urging Citizens to Post Civic Number

The province launched a public safety campaign today, Feb. 25, that highlights the critical importance of having a clearly posted civic number in front of every home, service organization and business.

Emergency Management Minister David Morse kicked off the Sign up for Safety campaign by providing blue and white civic number signs to six households in the Lawrencetown area of Halifax Regional Municipality.

"This is an important public safety initiative -- one that will assist first responders in being able to quickly locate those in need of help," said Mr. Morse. "Posting your civic number can save your life or the life of a loved one."

Television advertisements for the campaign will air in March.

Without clearly posted civic numbers to guide them, police, paramedics and firefighters can be challenged in quickly locating the address of a 911 call.

"In times of emergency, seconds count," said Chief Tom Bremner, president of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia. "One of the easiest and most effective ways people can ensure that emergency responders can find them quickly in an emergency is by making sure their civic number is easily visible from the road."

For a list of suppliers of blue-and-white civic number signs visit the Emergency Management Office's website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo .

Nova Scotia's four 911 call centres in Dartmouth, Sydney, Truro and Kentville, employ 165 call-takers, who handle about 170,000 calls per year. The Emergency Management Office is responsible for delivering the provincewide 911 emergency reporting service.