Wichita Fire Station One kicked off a firefighter wellness initiative to begin providing yearly cancer screenings for Wichita firefighters.
Cancer is now the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, with studies showing they have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer compared to the general population. The initiative hopes that early detection and treatment can help reduce the numbers of deaths, 112 News reports.
The Kansas Health Foundation has pledged $150,000 to support the program. Additionally, a bill currently under discussion in the legislature would allocate $250,000 annually to firefighters across the state to help cover the cost of cancer screenings not included in their health insurance plans.
