Rockaway Beach gets free sunscreen dispensers to help protect beach-goers as part of a new citywide initiative. NY1's Gene Apodaca reports.
Catching rays on the beach for Fernanda Aomeida and her kids is a family tradition.
"You know, enjoy the Sunday, the beautiful day. The summer's so short so I have to bring the kids to have fun," said Aomeida.
But in the back of her mind she worries what the long term effects could be.
"Because right now it's fun, you have a tan and you're pretty and cool and enjoying the sun, but in the future, you know, your skin can get a cancer."
This seven-foot sunscreen tower was placed on the boardwalk near the Beach 97th Street Pavilion Sunday to help ease those concerns.
It was donated by Brightguard, the company which manufactured it.
"If you get a bad sunburn before the age of 13 or so it doubles your risk of getting skin cancer later in life. So one of our biggest things is just giving people access so they can mitigate risk of getting a sunburn hopefully reduce the risk of in the future getting skin cancer, " said Ryan Warren, CEO & Co-Founder, BrightGuard.
The tower which has four dispensers is part of a citywide initiative which began in May.
The New York City Parks Department partnered with non-profit organization "Impact Melanoma" to install 80 smaller touch-free dispensers at public beaches and other outdoor areas across the five boroughs. The sunscreen tower is the first of its kind in the city.
The tower will be in place on the boardwalk until September 10th. The city has plans to install more next year.
For some beach-goers, it's a welcome sight.
"If people don't have sunscreen on them, and then, oh I think we should buy some and then they don't buy any, they could just come to the tower and get some. And it's good, it's reliable, "said Anthony DeCastro.
Saving money with the hope of saving lives too.
In Far Rockaway, Gene Apodaca, NY1.