Schoolgirl gets first degree burns from 19 minutes on a sunbed

Experts yesterday called for unmanned tanning salons to be banned after a schoolgirl suffered first degree burns.

Kirsty McRae needed hospital treatment after 70 per cent of her body was affected when she spent 19 minutes lying on the sunbed.

Four hours after using the salon, the 14-year-old was on a drip being given oxygen while doctors re-hydrated her and administered painkillers.

Julie Barratt, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: “These salons should be banned because there is no effective way of controlling them.” Kirsty had put £1 into the coin-operated sunbed at the walk-in salon on a busy high street.

But after four minutes under the UV lamp, she wrongly believed she was not tanned enough so she paid an extra £3 for another 15 minutes. Kirsty, who’s now being treated at home with lotion, said: “I just wanted a tan. I had no idea they were so dangerous.”

The teen broke the rules by entering the salon, which is only for over 16s.

Owner James Hadley said: “It’s unfortunate that someone chose to ignore the warnings about sunbeds. I have posters all over the shop and on the doors.


Schoolgirl gets first degree burns from 19 minutes on a sunbed

Experts yesterday called for unmanned tanning salons to be banned after a schoolgirl suffered first degree burns.

Kirsty McRae needed hospital treatment after 70 per cent of her body was affected when she spent 19 minutes lying on the sunbed.

Four hours after using the salon, the 14-year-old was on a drip being given oxygen while doctors re-hydrated her and administered painkillers.

Julie Barratt, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: “These salons should be banned because there is no effective way of controlling them.” Kirsty had put £1 into the coin-operated sunbed at the walk-in salon on a busy high street.

But after four minutes under the UV lamp, she wrongly believed she was not tanned enough so she paid an extra £3 for another 15 minutes. Kirsty, who’s now being treated at home with lotion, said: “I just wanted a tan. I had no idea they were so dangerous.”

The teen broke the rules by entering the salon, which is only for over 16s.

Owner James Hadley said: “It’s unfortunate that someone chose to ignore the warnings about sunbeds. I have posters all over the shop and on the doors.

“I’m unbelievably upset but I operate within the law.”

But Kirsty’s mum Jill, 49, a health and safety officer, said: “Kirsty is partly responsible for what has happened to her but it just beggars belief that anyone can put money into a slot and do this amount of damage to themselves.”

Environmental health chiefs are investigating the Lextan salon in Barry, South Wales.

DANGERS OF TANNING

Sunbeds are blamed for the deaths of 100 skin cancer sufferers every year in Britain.

Lying under the UV lamps can increase the risk of developing the disease by 75 per cent. The dangerous rays given off by sunbeds can be 15 times more intense then the sun.

Source:http://www.mirror.co.uk/2009/02/20/schoolgirl-gets-first-degree-burns-from-19-minutes-on-a-sunbed-115875-21137189/