Today north Louisiana’s largest healthcare provider, Willis Knighton Health, announced it will implement a new Firefighter Health Initiative in partnership with the City of Shreveport, Bossier City and all Caddo and Bossier Fire Districts. The health initiative will provide annual physicals to all LA Act 554 qualifying active Shreveport, Bossier City and Caddo and Bossier parish firefighters as well as cancer screenings for an estimated 1,500 current and retired firefighters. The cost of the combined physicals and cancer screenings is an estimated $1,300 per firefighter – which Willis Knighton, as part of their “tithe the bottom line” commitment to the community and public safety, will donate.

Earlier this year, the state legislature passed a new law, LA Act 554, that requires local governments to provide cancer screenings for all full-time firefighters and retirees – at no cost to the individual firefighter. The legislation, which goes into effect in 2025, is designed to provide protection to firefighters, who are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals while fighting fires and in the aftermath of their smouldering clean up. These instances of answering 911 calls to house, car, and commercial building fires over time can significantly increase the risk of a firefighter developing cancer. That is why regular screening is so important.

“Along with the dangers firefighters face in their daily jobs, these heroes also deal with an invisible threat of developing a cancer diagnosis later in their careers simply from protecting their communities,” Willis Knighton Health CEO Jaf Fielder said. “Willis Knighton is proud to be part of this new firefighter health initiative that along with providing the state required cancer screenings, goes one step further. It provides annual physicals for all active firefighters to regularly monitor their health in other critical areas, including cardiovascular, pulmonary function, hearing ability, and more. Thus, in the event a health abnormality is detected, it can be caught early, and treatment can begin immediately to produce the greatest results for the firefighter and their family,” Fielder added.