With street signage difficult to read or non-existent in most parts of Joburg, the emergency management services has a new trick up its sleeve to find houses quickly during disasters - a Homefinder.

The City's popular safety figure Papa Q is on duty once more

A NEW gadget, called a Homefinder, is to be launched next week to help the City's emergency management services (EMS) to reach homes quicker when disaster strikes. In addition, the City is to launch a new street sign campaign that will help fire-fighters and other members of the EMS to get to their destinations as quickly as possible, without wasting precious time trying to find the right house.

The Homefinder is a large, square block of metal at the top of a long pole. On the block is an arrow and directions, such as Block A 1-10, making it easier for the EMS and road users to identify the area.

"We often get lost, even in suburbs, because house numbers and street name letters are too small," explained Nthatise Modingoane, the City's media liaison officer. "In emergencies there is no time to look around, trying to find a house where there is a crisis."

Rolling out the Homefinder would depend on areas' need. "The informal settlements are a priority because they don't have stand numbers or street names, making it very difficult for the EMS to identify houses. Other areas such as the inner city, townships and suburbs will also have the Homefinder."

His words were echoed by the EMS spokesperson, Malcolm Midgley, who said the Homefinder would help emergency crew responding to a fire or medical emergency, where every second could make a difference between life and death.

"The team will be able to see exactly where they are going and, as a result, the people [will be able to] get assistance immediately. Time is essential in tragic situations and this will help the crew respond and help as soon as possible," Midgley said.

The Homefinder is part of a broader Safety Awareness Campaign being implemented by the City of Johannesburg and the EMS, targeting all Joburg communities.

In other initiatives, there has been a winter safety campaign since the start of the chilly season, educating people about the dangers of hypothermia, building shacks too closely together, and dangerous use of paraffin and matches.

"Since the start of the winter campaign we have seen a decrease is shack fires. Previously one fire would catch 200 to 600 shacks, but the numbers have drastically changed over time. Now we get about 60 shacks burning," Midgley explained.

Causes of shack fires had also changed in recent years; previously fires would be caused by incorrect use of paraffin but now they are being caused by people fighting. "Domestic violence seems to be a common cause of … shack fire incidents that we have attended to in recent months."

Papa Q, the popular EMS character who spread the safety message on his travels around the city during summer safety campaigns, is doing service again this winter. Papa Q is the main character in the radio advertisements for the campaign and is expected to continue making appearances in and around Joburg.

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