Protecting Those Who Protect Us
Omaha Firefighter Encourages Colleagues to Take Advantage of Free Lung Cancer
Screenings
For Omaha firefighter Will Kurz, prevention isn’t just a recommendation, it’s a responsibility.
As an engineer with the Omaha Fire Department and a candidate on the promotional list for captain, Kurz understands the risks that come with the profession. Every call, every fire, and every exposure carries potential long-term health consequences that many firefighters face throughout their careers.
That’s why he is encouraging fellow firefighters to take advantage of Nebraska Cancer Specialists’ free lung cancer screening program designed specifically for firefighters.
“Firefighters are exposed to a great amount of carcinogens, both when we are actively firefighting and after the fires,” Kurz explained.
While firefighters are trained to focus on immediate dangers, the long-term effects of repeated exposure to smoke, toxins, and hazardous particulates can be less visible but just as serious.
After a fire, firefighters follow strict decontamination protocols to reduce exposure.
“They tell us to do our decon,” Kurz said. “We call it here, shower within an hour, just to remove all the particulates and everything that we’ve been exposed to from the fires.”
But even with those precautions, the cumulative impact of years spent in the profession can increase cancer risk.
A Commitment to Long-Term Health
For Kurz, lung cancer screening is about more than personal health. It’s about being present for the people who matter most.
“I feel it’s very important, not only as an individual, but for your long-term health, so you can be there not only for your spouse, your significant other, your kids, but your grandkids,” he said.
That perspective resonates throughout the fire service, where teamwork, service, and family are deeply intertwined. Taking steps to monitor one’s health today can make a meaningful difference in the future.
Nebraska Cancer Specialists offers free lung cancer screenings for eligible firefighters through a simple online scheduling process. Dedicated appointment times make it easy for firefighters to access potentially life-saving screening close to home.
“Get on their website,” Kurz encouraged. “There’s a specific page dedicated to firefighter screenings. You just pick a time and a date, show up.”
The appointment itself is quick and convenient.
“Within 10 to 15 minutes, you’re in and out,” he said. 
Staying Ahead of Cancer
Early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against lung cancer. When found early, lung cancer is often more treatable and may lead to better outcomes for patients.
For firefighters, who face higher occupational exposure to known carcinogens, proactive screening can be an important part of long-term wellness.
“We want to be preventative with cancer,” Kurz said. “So any test or procedure or what have you that we can do to just stay ahead of it, let’s do it.”
His message is simple but powerful: protecting others is what firefighters do every day. Taking time to protect their own health is just as important.
