Rhode Island Installs Complimentary Sunscreen Stations

Complimentary sunscreen dispenser stations are being installed in all Rhode Island state beaches and several parks for the 2019 summer season, thanks to a coalition of government and private organizations, including sun care company Raw Elements USA.
 
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and US Senator Jack Reed have joined the Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, Rhode Island-based South County Dermatology and Raw Elements to bring environmentally-safe sunscreen to beach goers.

Raw Elements wasfounded by a long-time Rhode Island lifeguard Brian Guadagno.
  
This year, Governor Raimondo announced a new plan to invest into these beaches and parks, Rhode Island’s treasures, for the benefit of generations to come. “Rhode Island’s beautiful parks and beaches are some of our most treasured cultural and economic resources, drawing thousands of visitors from across the state and around the county,” she said.  “Offering complimentary sunscreen stations at our public recreation facilities is an important way we can help people of all ages protect themselves against skin cancer this summer.”
 
Reed authored The Sunscreen Innovation Act in 2014.
 
“We feel truly honored to have the opportunity with such amazing partners to bring this public health initiative to the State of Rhode Island,” noted Guadagno,. “There is such a high density of people enjoying summers here, and now they, as well as state employees, will have access to safe and effective sunscreen literally at their fingertips. This is a huge win for public health and a national example.”
 

Sun safety is a priority in Rhode Island at both the State and local level in Rhode Island. For the past six years, the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program has worked diligently with state and local parks and recreation partners to improve utilization of sun safe behaviors among outdoor workers, beach-goers, and recreational athletes. The Rhode Island Department of Health, the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, Brown Dermatology, Lifespan Community Health and NBC 10 will continue to lead summer initiatives providing complimentary Skin Check skin cancer screenings and sun care education throughout the state’s beaches and parks.
  
Raw Elements and the Town of Narragansett, RI have been running a similar complimentary sunscreen program for the past two summers which served as a national model for the statewide launch. The Narragansett program served over ten thousand patrons a day and received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from locals and tourists.
 
This initiative will be funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, through a federal Comprehensive Cancer Control cooperative agreement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, as well as by investment from South County Dermatology and Raw Elements.