If you are not an emergency responder you might not understand how hard it is sometimes to find a street address.

For example, let us say it is late at night and it is raining and you have to respond to a certain address. Finding the street is no problem, but sometimes finding the correct address is another problem.

In some cases the address is painted on the curb, but vehicles have parked covering the numbers up. In other cases, the house number is not visible or totally different from what it should be. In still other cases, the house number is not visible or totally different from what it should be. In some areas the mail box number and the house number is totally different and not in any kind of order.

If you are waiting for help, minutes are precious.

I want to tell you about something that will help you and help emergency responders. This help is a simple light switch. You may ask, “How can this help me?”

Everyone has a porch light outside his or her home. All you do is remove the switch on your house and replace it with a 911 locator flashing emergency switch.

Your regular light will still work, but just flip the switch and your light will start flashing off and on. Emergency vehicles will see the flashing light as soon as they turn down your street.

This simple switch saves precious time that you might need. Now you are asking, “Where can I get one of these switches?”

There are only two places they can be purchased:

• Crawford Electric

200 L @ A Road

Metairie, La 70001

(504) 731 0480

• Company out of State

1-800-441-4223

If purchased in Metairie, you don’t have to pay shipping if you pick it up. The price from both locations is about $18 per switch.

Help us help you and get yourself one of these 911 light switches. It will be the best $18 you have ever spent.

If you have any questions, call Lt. Wayne Norwood at 652-7058.

Wayne Norwood is a lieutenant with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Department and owner and operator of the Louisiana Treasures Museum.