Agenda - 06-06-2017 - 6-c - Request to Name the Emergency Services Building as the Philip “Nick” Waters Center

Browse Search

couNre Attachment 1 3 *or!, Orange County %;! Emergency Services 'A- . u.rna ......Jeffries aI u.re tor 510 Meadowlands Drive owERGet404 Hillsborough,NC 27278 seRvIces 919.245.6100 December 7, 2016 Bonnie Hammersley Orange County Manager Post Office Box 8181 Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Dear County Manager Hammersley: I am writing this letter to request that Orange County Emergency Services be allowed to pursue naming our building in recognition of the most innovative and community oriented director this County has ever been fortunate enough to have in its service. Please allow me to quickly summarize his achievements. Colonel Philip "Nick" Waters came to Orange County in 1988. He faced every challenge with an "out of the box" approach. His experience in law enforcement, EMS, fire and even 9-1-1 afforded him the opportunity to collaborate and open doors based on his understanding of needs and resources. Some, but certainly not all, of his accomplishments included: 1. Only 1 of 2 Emergency Management Directors who stood before the NC Sheriff's Commission and spoke in favor of certification for 9-1-1 Telecommunicators under the umbrella of the Sheriff's Commission. He was vocal across the State and his voice was heard when in 1998 the Commission voted to make it mandatory for all Sheriff controlled 9-1-1 Centers and opened the doors for any agency wishing to do so would be welcomed to certify. 2. In 1998, Colonel Waters pushed a new initiative—the first in the nation—called "Welcome to the World." An Orange County Paramedic would be contacting families of newborns to schedule a home visit. Included in the visit was a safety check to help assist parents in providing a safe environment for a newborn. This safety check was designed to identify items and issues, which have been shown to place young infants and preschool children at risk for injury or illness.The program was greatly appreciated and welcomed in the Orange County communities, but the program did not survive after the death of Colonel Waters. 3. Another initiative, and the first in the nation, was the Initial Response Paramedic Program.This program was designed to incorporate Paramedics into the community by having them respond A Prepared, Coordinated, and Integrated Emergency Services System I r° V:I( r( ?aac ic( ri,(ner