Jessica Lipscomb, Naples Daily News (Florida)

In June, public safety officials in Collier County unveiled an online network that allows residents to create a personalized profile that can be accessed by 9-1-1 dispatchers.

But six months after implementing Smart911, only about 1,600 people have signed up for the service – roughly one-half of 1 percent of the county’s population.

“We are getting ready to do another push for our seasonal residents as they come,” said Michelle Batten, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Smart911 officials agreed it’s likely many seasonal residents aren’t aware of the service, which allows people to make a free profile with details about their medical history or logistical information like gate codes. Emergency responders hope the voluntary profiles will give them a better idea of what’s needed from the person on the other end of the telephone during a crisis.

“We’re expecting a large influx of population who may be seasonal, and we’ve got big plans for program awareness to hit those people,” said Tom Axbey, CEO of Rave, which makes Smart911.

The “golden number” for enrollment is about 10 percent of a jurisdiction’s population within a year after Smart911 launches in that community, Axbey said.

“What happens is the people who initially sign up are the vulnerable population affected by a disability or medication or a change in their life that they want a first responder to know about,” he said. “Those are the ones that we capture first.”

The company hopes another incentive will further encourage people to register: For each free safety profile created through the end of the year, Smart911 will donate $1 to the Sandy Hook Support Fund to help victims’ families with counseling, funeral expenses and other services.

Axbey said his group spoke with authorities in Newtown, Conn., a community that uses Smart911, and went ahead with the promotion after being given the green light.

“A vast percentage of America was absolutely completely blindsided by the tragedy and bravery there,” he said. “We’re in public safety, and we’re in the business of helping call takers and first responders do their job, whatever that job may be. We wanted to do anything we could to help and thought this was a win-win situation.”

Anyone who lives in Collier County, including Naples city residents, can create a free profile at www.smart911.com. The information can be accessed in any U.S. community that also uses the Smart911 system.

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