Farmingville, NY - On Thursday, July 29, Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilwoman Jane Bonner were joined by Mather Hospital’s Nancy Uzo, Vice President of Public Affairs and Stuart Vincent, Director of Public Relations at a press conference to announce a public/private partnership to provide free sunscreen at Town beaches and pools. The press conference was held at the Town of Brookhaven’s Cedar Beach West in Mount Sinai. The free sunscreen program was initiated to generate awareness about how sunscreen can make a difference in the spread of skin cancer and melanoma. Also, in attendance at the press conference was Wendy Parr, co-president of Creative Advertising Concepts (CAC). In 2017, CAC launched its first sunscreen program in the City of Long Beach with partner Winthrop Hospital. Currently, CAC manages 13 programs with 11 on Long Island and 2 in Westchester County. The sunscreen dispensers are state-of-the-art units endorsed by Impact Melanoma, a national not for profit organization dedicated to working to reduce the incidence of melanoma.
Pictured at the Cedar Beach West Sunscreen Dispenser are (left to right) Wendy Parr, Co-President Creative Advertising Concepts; Nancy Nuzzo, Mather Hospital Northwell Vice President of Public Affairs; Councilwoman Jane Bonner and Supervisor Ed Romaine.
Supervisor Ed Romaine said, “If not treated, Skin Cancer and Melanoma can spread to many parts of the body, but there are things we can do to lower the risk and applying sunscreen is one of the most effective ways to prevent it. I thank Mather Hospital and CAC for making this program available to the Town of Brookhaven. I encourage everyone to make sunscreen part of your routine when you expect to be in the sun.”
Councilwoman Bonner said, “Installing the sunscreen dispensers is a big step in the Town’s effort to help prevent Skin Cancer and Melanoma. Statistics show that in the United States, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than any other cancer combined, so it’s important that people apply sunscreen, especially when at the beach. Now it’s easier to do thanks to our partners at Mather Hospital.”
“According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer before age 70 and five sunburns over the course of your lifetime doubles your chances of developing melanoma,” said Nancy Uzo. “Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by about 40 percent.”
Along with installing quart-sized “touchless” dispensers containing SPF 30 sunscreen, the program arranges for health care partners to provide sun protection, along with skin cancer educational and outreach programs at municipal facilities and events. It also incorporates an awareness campaign through Town and hospital partner social media. The free sunscreen dispensers are also located at other Town of Brookhaven beaches and pools, including Cedar Beach West in Mt. Sinai, Corey Beach in Blue Point, West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook and the Town’s Holtsville and Centereach Pools. All the dispensers provide superior SPF 30 broad spectrum, UVA/IVB protection that resists wear off from water, rubbing, sweating and wiping.
About Mather Hospital
Mather Hospital, a member hospital of Northwell Health, is an accredited 248-bed, non-profit community teaching hospital dedicated to providing a wide spectrum of high-quality healthcare services to Suffolk County residents, showing compassion and respect and treating each patient in the manner we would wish for our loved ones. Mather has twice earned the prestigious Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Mather has received 15 “A” ratings for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. For further information about Mather Hospital, visit the Mather Hospital website or Facebook page.
Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
One Independence Hill • Farmingville • NY 11738