10-year-old suffered 70% burns after a 16-minute session at an unmanned tanning studio

[steven johnson]

Here's another risk of tanning besides skin cancer.

guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 May 2009 18.49 BST
A 10-year-old schoolgirl suffered burns over 70% of her body after a 16-minute session at an unmanned tanning studio.

Within hours of leaving the tanning salon in Port Talbot, south Wales, Kelly Thompson was taken to hospital.

Medics at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, where she was taken, said if she had remained an extra two minutes, she would have needed skin grafts. Kelly has now been warned to keep out of direct sunlight for up to 10 years.

Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: "Unmanned, coin-operated sunbeds need to be banned, as children can use them, and there is no time limit. This can lead to serious health problems, including skin cancer."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/may/01/sunbed-girl-suffers-burns

[MercutioATC]

1. I agree that coin-op booths should be banned...as coin-op cigarette machines are.

However, it's possible to go too far in the other direction, too.

In Ohio, there's proposed legislation to require not only parental permission for minors to tan, but a doctor's note too.

That's ridiculous.

[LeftishBrit]

5. What's ridiculous is allowing minors to use tanning booths at all

I think there should be an absolute rule that no one can use them under 18.

If an adult wants to endanger their own life, well, I suppose it's their choice; but kids are another matter.

[My Good Babushka]

2. Tanning as an industry is just as dumb as tobacco

probably worse, since many parents pay for, and encourage it, while they would never buy their kids a carton of cigarettes. I hope it's taxed exorbitantly.

[kimmerspixelated]

3. WHY is a 10 yr-old in a tanning booth?

I'm sorry, it's like seeing them wearing makeup or coloring their hair, a little too soon! AM I just old-fashioned?

[mzmolly]

4. That was going to by my first question.

Good grief!