Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Kim Johnson ReportingA recommendation by the Davis County Board of Health could mean "lights out" for minors in tanning salons. The Board is considering restricting children's access to tanning facilities.
Right now they are looking at a wide-range of possibilities, everything from parental consent forms, requiring a parent to accompany their minor into the salon to possibly banning minors from tanning altogether.
While nothing has been decided, salon owners are concerned how the pending decision could impact their business. Tanning salon owner Laurey Olsen worries an extreme restriction by the Health Board could have extreme effects on business.
Laurey Olsen, Tanning Salon Owner: "It's about 50/50 adults and kids. I've got Davis High School a few block away and they all come in tanning."
Both owner and mother, Olsen disagrees with the idea of county intervention when it comes to something like tanning.
Laurey Olsen: "I think it's between parent and child responsibility. I'm not forcing anyone to tan. We're just a business that offers a service and we're glad to help any way we can."
This mother also disagrees. In fact, she often tans with her daughter. She says she is aware of the risk, but thinks it's all about moderation.
Madaleen Pekarsik, Davis County Resident: "Requiring us to come in may be extreme, but a parent signature would be fine. I do not like the city to step in, or the county to step in and make that choice for me."
That choice is something Lewis Garrett questions.
Lewis Garrett, Davis Health Board Director: "It's much like we don't let minors buy tobacco; even with a note from mom you can't buy beer or tobacco."
Garrett feels the numbers say it all. In the last 25 years the cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, doubled in Davis County alone.
Lewis Garrett: "You can't attribute that all to tanning facilities, but the number one risk factor is UV exposure to the skin, which in a tanning facility is what you do."
When talking about minors, Garret feels it's important to consider the lifetime risk.
Lewis Garrett: "The younger you have the exposure, the greater the damage because you have a longer period of time to be at risk."
In fact, Garrett says just ten trips to the tanning salon will double a child's chance of getting skin cancer.
Lewis Garrett: "I think any parent who allows a minor to tan, really needs to take a look at if that is a smart thing to do.
Garrett will be meeting with business owners to discuss the options. Davis County is not alone in their efforts--13 other states regulate tanning among minors and Salt Lake County currently requires a parental permission form.
