Tanning bed session left 14-year-old girl burned
SIX minutes on a sunbed left a young teen so burned she had to take time off school, according to her mum.
Jayne Hoare said her 14-year-old daughter Jude's stomach and back were left red raw after visiting the unmanned salon in Swansea city centre.
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BURNED: Jayne Hoare with her daughter Jude, 14, who was left in pain after using an Easytan sunbed.
The burns were so bad the Bishopston School pupil had to take time off school, and her mother had to cancel a work shift to look after her.
But the salon in question said today that the girl should not have been in there in the first place because of her age, and that it complied with all regulations.
Waitress Jayne said: "Jude had gone in with some others, and said she was only on there for six minutes. She's only 14, but there was no-one in there to stop her.
"She didn't tell me at first, because she knew I wouldn't have been happy she had been on the sunbed in the first place.
"But the pain got so bad she started crying and complaining it was hurting her.
"I called the NHS helpline number and took her to the doctor who prescribed some oil, and got her some cream from the chemists.
"But I think these places should have people working there. My daughter doesn't listen to me half the time, so she's not going to take notice of a sign saying she can't use the sunbed."
Earlier this year, Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan brought a private member's bill before Parliament, calling for tighter regulation of tanning salons.
Banning
The bill, which is set to become law in April next year, will stop under-18s from booking sunbed sessions. But it also has a provision which will allow the Assembly to pursue the option of banning unmanned salons.
One supporter of the bill, and a long-time campaigner for tighter controls on sun beds, is Swansea East MP, Sian James. She said: "It is because of cases like this that I have been fighting for tighter controls on sunbed salons.
"If young people are not taking advice, we have to protect them from themselves.
"Young people are under such pressure to conform. They want to look attractive and regard a tan as healthy, and feel it will make them more beautiful and confident. But you need an adult there to check the age of the person, and to advise them about their skin type, and how long they can use the machines."
Jude had paid a visit to the Easytan salon in Dillwyn Street last Saturday.
Manager Pat Griffiths said: "I am sorry if the young girl was burned, but if she was only 14 she should not have been there.
"We have signs everywhere explaining that young people are not allowed to use sunbeds, and we have cameras monitoring the premises. There are a lot of regulations and we comply with them all because we have to.
"If the law changes to ban unmanned salons, we will have to respect that too."
nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk
50 Comments
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by Caroline, USA
Friday, March 04 2011, 7:20AM
“Skin cancer risk in teenagers who use tanning beds is rising, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics. Numerous studies have connected an increased risk of skin cancer with tanning bed use at a younger age. U.S. pediatric and dermatology groups are calling for legislation, banning teenagers from using indoor tanning devices.”
by ANON, Three Crosses
Thursday, January 20 2011, 6:12PM
“THIS IS MY BESTFRIEND YOU ARE ALL SLAGGING OFF, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE HER OR HER FAMILY, THIS WAS NOT A STORY THAT JUDE AND JAYNE COOKED UP, THEY ARE ACTUALLY MORTIFIED TO HAVE EVEN HEARD THAT MENTIONED! JUDE RANG ME WHEN SHE STARTED TO FEEL IN PAIN AND WAS VERY UPSET, CAN YOU SEE WHAT DAMAGE ONLY SIX MINUTES CAN DO! YES WE ARE AWARE NOW THAT ONLY OVER 18S ARE ALLOWED TO USE THESE CANCER MACHINES BUT THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO STOP JUDE, THE SALON WAS UN MANNED! HAD THE STAYED ON THERE FOR ANOTHER 6MINUTES SHE WOULD HAVE CAUSED EVEN MORE DAMAGE TO HERSELF BUT WE ARE ARGUING BECAUSE THE SALON WAS UN MANNED THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO STOP HER!
KATE”
by Heather, Mumbles
Thursday, July 01 2010, 6:49PM
“There really are some *wicked* people in Swansea; any excuse to pick on another!!!!”
by Sue, peedoff
Wednesday, June 30 2010, 1:48PM
“If it was my daughter, yes, I would have rung the EP to take her picture of her. Standing in the middle of Castle Square with ¿I AM STUPID¿ on it.”
by Beanie, Neath
Wednesday, June 30 2010, 9:12AM
“Anon, Swansea- As you rightfully write 'everyone is entitled to their opinion' but it seems that yours is certainly in the minority and opinions like yours are why we live in such a nanny state as so many commentaters have said. If you run to the papers blaming everybody but yourself it is going to annoy people and these forums are there to vent opinions and frustrations. I would agree though that some of the comments are over the top. By the way just wondering how many compensations claims you have had paid out? Oh and read my previous threads-I do not class any of them vile! Blunt but not vile!!”
by Violet, Ultra
Tuesday, June 29 2010, 8:20PM
“If they are made illegal, it will lead to back-street sunbeds.”
by MARY MARY, SWANSEA
Tuesday, June 29 2010, 8:20PM
“ONLY ONE PERSON TO BLAMES THATS HER DAUGHTER .ON ALL THE SUNBEDS IVE BEEN TO ITS SAYS STRICTLY OVER 18;S ONLY .THAT SAYS IT ALL SHE CHOSE TO IGNORE THE WARNINGS IS THIS REALLY ALL WE HAVE TO REPOT ON IN SWANSEA A GIRL HOW IGNORES SIGNS AND AS HER MOTHER STATED IN THE REPORT DOESNT LSITEN TO HER .IS THIS NOT THE WOMAN WHO WAS IN THE PAPER LAST YEAR WITH HER SON WHO HAD A UNDER AGE PIERCING .WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY I THINK SHE NEEDS TO LOOK A LITTLE CLOSE TO HOME AND TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT HER PARENTING SKILLS B4 SHE BLAMES EVERYONE ELSE”
by Anon, Swansea
Tuesday, June 29 2010, 7:40PM
“Paul, swansea - actually your wrong, because there is already something in the pipe line with the govt regarding these unmanned salons considering there have been many incidents with them around the country. At least I know what I'm talking about because I've seen the facts! So Pffft to your comment!”
by Paul, Swansea
Tuesday, June 29 2010, 6:33PM
“Anon, Mayals, I wouldn't be so sure these salons will be closed down. Fortunately the new Government appears to be against the nanny state that Labour created and you seem to support. Life is full of risks. You can't ban everything so people need to use their common sense and be responsible for their own actions. People like you would still have men walking in front of cars waving red flags.”
by Anon, Mayals, Swansea
Tuesday, June 29 2010, 4:59PM
“These tanning salons WILL BE enforced to be manned or closed down, one or the other but it WILL happen. Its not just youngsters who need to be protected but adults too. Besides getting burnt - other issues happening in these unmanned salons are of concern. Watch this space - and then the ones who thinks its ok for tanning salons to be unmanned will be swallowing their words and instead of laughing and scorning will be laughed and scorned at !”