SABATTUS – Is your house number visible from the street? It may be one of the most important numbers residents are ever assigned, said Sabattus officials.

Local emergency responders need to be able to see an address number when they are driving to a residence, possibly to save a life. Emergency vehicles, whether they be police, fire or ambulance, may approach a residence from a different direction than the mail delivery person. Having the number on one side of the mailbox is not enough.

To help save valuable minutes, post address numbers clearly in front of the residence. They should be four inches high, bold or reflective colors to stand out, and may be mounted on roadside posts, both sides of mailboxes, trees, building fronts or doors or other means.

No matter how they are placed, they must be clearly visible to someone driving by the residence.

To find out if the numbers are visible enough, drive by the house at night at 25 or 30 mph to see if the numbers are visible from the inside the vehicle.

And a winter safety reminder: Be sure to keep numbers and exits clear of ice and snow. A blocked escape route can result in wasted time in the event of an emergency.