Street lanterns in Warsaw can save lives

In Warsaw there are over 100,000 lighting poles. On each of them there is a number that describes our location more accurately than providing an address or a characteristic point nearby. It is very valuable to the emergency services, because it allows a very precise location where they will need to come.

Below you can see a photo I took on Marszałkowsta street, lantern number 136.

If someone calls the emergency line 112 or the police and has difficulty determining which is the place, the phone operator can always ask callers to go to the nearest lantern to confirm its number.

These codes are visible on the maps which the emergency services use.

The head of the Warsaw security office stated the below:
This simple yet practical idea has not been implemented in any other European city. So Warsaw has something to boast about. The solution is particularly useful on the periphery of the city, where buildings are not always visible.

 

I have done some investigation and found out that a similar system is being used in Prague, Czech Republic. But anyway, I like this old school system which is a great help to the emergency services.