Seeking to spread the word on skin cancer prevention and detection, U.S. Senator Jack Reed teamed up with the Rhode Island Department of Health, The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, and other medical professionals to promote the 2015 SunSmarts campaign, which offers free skin cancer screenings at local beaches around the state.
The campaign brings together public health officials, doctors, and dermatologists who are volunteering their time and expertise to offer free skin cancer screenings for beachgoers and to help educate the public about effective sun protection.
Conducted in a private setting by board certified dermatologists and dermatology residents affiliated with University Dermatology, the free skin cancer screenings include a visual inspection of a patient’s skin by a medical professional with no blood work required. A typical screening takes about 15 minutes and officials hope to screen about 500 beach goers.
The first come, first served screenings -- which have been taking place at selected beaches throughout the summer -- will be offered at Roger Wheeler Beach (Sand Hill Cove Beach) in Narragansett today, and later this month at Misquamicut Beach in Westerly (August 21).
