Town of North Hempstead officials, along with North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, recently held a free skin cancer screening event at Clinton G. Martin Park.
The event was the first part of the town’s “Wellness Wednesdays” initiative in partnership with the two Northwell Health facilities. The mobile unit was stationed at the park for a three-hour period and offered free screenings to over 30 residents.
“When caught early, skin cancer is very treatable, that is why it is so important to be proactive,” said Northwell Dermatologist Silvija Gottesman. “In addition to those we screened, we hope that other visitors to the park noticed our presence and are reminded to take care of their skin and visit a doctor if they feel something doesn’t look quite right. Thank you to the Town of North Hempstead for making this event possible.”
One in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
The organization encourages individuals to utilize sunscreen (marked SPF 30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays) properly by applying it 30 minutes before exposure and reapplying every two hours. Additionally, sun-resistant clothing (marked UPF) can help minimize the risks of exposure to the sun.
“Hosting today’s skin cancer screening for our residents is important to us at the Town of North Hempstead on so many levels,” said North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. “We want our residents to enjoy their time at our beautiful parks this summer safely, and we encourage them to use the free sunscreen that has been generously provided to us by North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center,” she added.
“We are proud of the Town’s continuing partnership with Northwell Health,” said Council Member Veronica Lurvey. “We welcome our residents to take part in our free Wellness Wednesday series all summer long so they can stay healthy.”
For more information on the Town of North Hempstead and the entire schedule of upcoming Wellness Wednesday events, please visit our website at https://www.northhempsteadny.gov/.