NYU Winthrop initiative provides free sunscreen

Town of North Hempstead officials joined executives from NYU Winthrop Hospital Thursday to unveil a new initiative to provide free sunscreen at 25 touch-free dispensers located throughout the town.

The town board approved the agreement for the next three summers with Creative Advertising Concepts, which brought the program to the town and coordinated the sponsorship at no cost to taxpayers. The initiative is part of a larger NYU Winthrop program to promote sun safety.

The dispensers will be located at various locations throughout the town including North Hempstead Beach Park, Clark Botanic Garden, Harbor Links Golf Course and other major parks and pools. Each dispenser contains about a quart of SPF 30 sunscreen and will be available through Labor Day.

“We can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer by simply remembering to use sunscreen, which is why NYU Winthrop Hospital teamed with the Town of North Hempstead to make sunscreen easily accessible at popular leisure spots,” Dr. Peter O’Neill, chief of the Division of Dermatology at NYU Winthrop Hospital, said in the statement.

“NYU Winthrop Hospital is proud to support efforts that keep community members healthy and safe,” John F. Collins, president and CEO of NYU Winthrop Hospital, said in the statement. “We are pleased to partner with the Town of North Hempstead on this very important initiative to bring free sunscreen to 25 different locations, where we know many individuals and families will be spending time this summer.”