http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/NEWS01/710280381/-1/all

Backers of the bill say teens need to be kept away from tanning salons - and one Fairfield mother testified last week that tanning led to her daughter's death.

 

Ohio and Kentucky already require written consent from parents.

 

The proposal by state Rep. Courtney Combs, of Hamilton, would be the most stringent standard nationwide for minors buying an indoor tan.

 

No state currently requires a medical prescription for a teenager to buy a commercial tan, according to dermatology experts. There are about 3,000 businesses with licensed tanning beds in Ohio.

 

"What do you think about a 16-year-old who's going to her first prom?'' Shafor asked lawmakers. "Do you think her mom is going to say, 'No'? Let's please eliminate this decision for our children.''

 

Combs said he was encouraged to introduce such legislation by Dr. Louis Barich, a Hamiltondermatologist who tried to regulate tanning salons in the city of Hamilton last year.

 

Hamilton didn't want to drive tanning salons out when the teenage health concerns might be better addressed with a statewide law, Combs said.

 

Combs is concerned dangerous tanning rays can cause skin cancer and eye damage.

 

"I see it as a long-term health issue,'' Combs said. "It parallels smoking, drinking, those types of things, especially for younger women and their chances for getting melanoma for ultraviolet radiation. ... This is a killing disease.''

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"What do you think about a 16-year-old who's going to her first prom?'' Shafor asked lawmakers. "Do you think her mom is going to say, 'No'? Let's please eliminate this decision for our children.''

Uh ... Yeah. She should have said 'No'.

 

Last I checked, until they are 18, they are Mom and Dad's responsibility.

Uh ... Yeah. She should have said 'No'.

 

Last I checked, until they are 18, they are Mom and Dad's responsibility.

 

Mom and dad signed the form and tell teen once a week. Unbeknownst to mom and with no proper control at the store level, teen is going 3-4 times a week.

 

Should this be stricter regulated since this type of exposure to the harmful rays has a strong chance to lead to skin cancer and a possible further strain on the health care system in future years?

I'd say no one under the age of 18 should be allowed on the tanning bed. If they need it for prom they can get the spray-on tan. Didn't they see Final Destination 3?

One thing to think about, we have outlawed cigarettes that causes a form of cancer why is this any difference?

Let's ban the sun!

Let's ban the sun!

 

Nah, just regulate the artificial suns that give a several hours of sun dosage in 15 minutes.

Mom and dad signed the form and tell teen once a week. Unbeknownst to mom and with no proper control at the store level, teen is going 3-4 times a week.

 

Should this be stricter regulated since this type of exposure to the harmful rays has a strong chance to lead to skin cancer and a possible further strain on the health care system in future years?

Still Mom and Dad's responsibility. The dangers of tanning booths have been well documented since before the time of the internet. I remember a "20/20" done back in the 80's exposing the harmful results from tanning booths. The fact the parents signed anything to allow their daughter to subject herself to one shows lack of responsibility to begin with. Beyond that, it appears they didn't care what their daughter did out of their sight.

 

Until they were 18. I knew my kid's schedules. I knew where they were supposed to be and when. They knew Mrs. S and I checked up on them constantly and they knew the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Still Mom and Dad's responsibility. The dangers of tanning booths have been well documented since before the time of the internet. I remember a "20/20" done back in the 80's exposing the harmful results from tanning booths. The fact the parents signed anything to allow their daughter to subject herself to one shows lack of responsibility to begin with. Beyond that, it appears they didn't care what their daughter did out of their sight.

 

Until they were 18. I knew my kid's schedules. I knew where they were supposed to be and when. They knew Mrs. S and I checked up on them constantly and they knew the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

You are right here, BUT when a possible dirth of skin cancer cases puts another strain on the health care system in 20-30 years, is it now not only a responsibility of the parent but the legislators to protect the health care system from a potential issue.

You are right here, BUT when a possible dirth of skin cancer cases puts another strain on the health care system in 20-30 years, is it now not only a responsibility of the parent but the legislators to protect the health care system from a potential issue.

Teenage obesity in the country is a far greater threat to the health of our kids and to the health care system than tanning beds. Should teenagers be banned from McDonalds or is it the parent's responsibility to control their offspring's diet? Where do you want to draw the line?

Teenage obesity in the country is a far greater threat to the health of our kids and to the health care system than tanning beds. Should teenagers be banned from McDonalds or is it the parent's responsibility to control their offspring's diet? Where do you want to draw the line?

 

NYC has banned the use of certain types of oil high in transfat in restaurants. That would be a good step nationwide to help combat the problem you have mentioned.

 

That is a good governmental step to offsetting the problem. Why is this different?

 

Using your argument, cigarettes to teenagers should be legal and parental responsibility on whether a 14-year old is smoking or not.

Many doctors send their patients to tanning beds for therapeutic benefits for arthritis, as well as skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and severe acne. This could include teens. The key for tanning bed use or sun exposure, like all things, is moderation. Not going around 365 days a year looking like you've just spent a week on the Equator.

 

I think tanning beds are dangerous to the skin and increase risk of developing skin cancer. Also, you're setting yourself up to look like a worn-out handbag in the near future. I wouldn't encourage my daughters to go; and it wouldn't bother me if tanning beds ceased to exist tomorrow. As to passing a law restricting use, what is the point of constantly writing new laws when we can't enforce all the ones we already have? We are legislating ourselves to death! Quick, somebody pass a law banning the writing of any new laws.

Many doctors send their patients to tanning beds for therapeutic benefits for arthritis, as well as skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and severe acne. This could include teens. The key for tanning bed use or sun exposure, like all things, is moderation. Not going around 365 days a year looking like you've just spent a week on the Equator.

 

I think tanning beds are dangerous to the skin and increase risk of developing skin cancer. Also, you're setting yourself up to look like a worn-out handbag in the near future. I wouldn't encourage my daughters to go; and it wouldn't bother me if tanning beds ceased to exist tomorrow. As to passing a law restricting use, what is the point of constantly writing new laws when we can't enforce all the ones we already have? We are legislating ourselves to death! Quick, somebody pass a law banning the writing of any new laws.

 

So as a leader of this country and seeing a rash of parental neglect and possibly future major health care issue that financially going to attack an already problem health care system, you would choose to do what?

 

Public service announcements?

So as a leader of this country and seeing a rash of parental neglect and possibly future major health care issue that financially going to attack an already problem health care system, you would choose to do what?

 

Public service announcements?

Why not? And lots of before and after pictures, too.

 

What about parents who let their kids spend too much time outdoors in the sun with no sunscreen? Where does it end?

 

And the health care system...well, maybe it's what needs to be fixed. How to fix it? I don't claim to know at this moment.

 

You and I are never going to agree about anything, are we?

Should doctors also issue prescription for sun exposure? What would the penalty be for some family determined to own their own tanning bed? Would the government license them? Maybe we could just levy a $10/visit tax on all tanning bed users and use the income derived therefrom to help improve child healthcare in this country.

 

We has started down the slippery slope of nanny-statedom and proposals like this one will become common place. What's next, prescriptions for cheeseburgers?