"I didn't even know I was nominated!" said Lewis, who is head safety officer for Howell County Rural Fire District #1 in West Plains, Mo. "I've been the safety officer here for about five years, so the recognition is nice."
Lewis definitely has the department's health and safety on his mind, as he is responsible for the safety of the department's 25 firefighters and eight junior firefighters. At the safety officer's meetings, Lewis always does a walkthrough of the fire station to ensure that equipment and apparatus are put where they belong. He enforces safety sessions at the station's monthly drill nights, and he is also establishing a health and exercise program for the department.
When asked what he thinks the most important lesson is for firefighter safety, Lewis said, "When they're driving, wear their seat belts." When the department has its driving school twice a year, Lewis is one of the instructors and always makes sure that his team can safely maneuver the driving course. He is also vigilant when the crew is driving the fire trucks on the street.
"When we think about safety in our department, the first name that comes to mind is Delbert Lewis," said Christel Cantrell, who nominated Lewis for Safe Firefighter of the Month. "We can definitely count on him to lead us in the right direction on safety issues that may arise."
To nominate someone for Hale's Safe Firefighter of the Month Award, visit www.safe-firefighter.com. Each month, a top candidate will be chosen from the submissions made by firehouses across the United States, and the winners and nominees will have their photos and profiles displayed on the website.
About Hale
Hale, based in Conshohocken, Pa., is a fire and rescue equipment company founded in 1914 by three Pennsylvania firefighters who believed they could build a better fire pump. Today, the company has grown through new product innovation and strategic acquisitions to supply pump modules, compressed air foam systems, electronic controls and valves. For more information, visit www.haleproducts.com.
