SEYMOUR -- The Seymour Fire Department has been honored with a prestigious statewide award for its innovative approach to firefighter health and safety.

The department's cancer screening program was recognized with the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities' (Aim) Program Innovation Award in the category for communities with a population under 25,000. The award, which recognizes municipalities for successfully developing and implementing creative new approaches to service delivery, was presented at a luncheon in French Lick in October.

The award-winning program, a partnership with United Diagnostic Services, provides non-invasive ultrasounds to the department's 45 active firefighters. At a cost of about $350 per firefighter, the screenings examine the heart, thyroid, liver, kidneys, bladder, and other vital organs.

The program proved to be life-saving almost immediately: as a result of the initial screenings, one firefighter was diagnosed with an early stage of thyroid cancer, which was successfully treated with minor surgery.

Department officials view the screenings, which will be repeated every two years, as a cost-effective and life-saving measure when compared to the expense and gravity of cancer treatment. The program is strongly supported by both the firefighters' union and the city, demonstrating a deep commitment to the health and safety of Seymour's first responders.