DEAR EDITOR:
On behalf of the grad council at Handsworth secondary, I write as a student dedicated to seeing an increase of awareness in youth about the risk of indoor tanning.
Tanning beds have been classified by the World Health Organization as a human carcinogen. Yet youth are still allowed to put themselves at risk of cancer, a dangerous disease that can result due to tanning. One of the most impacted age groups is those 15-to 29-years-old - the age group that myself and my peers fall into.
Due to the myths and ignorance of the real harm tanning can cause, youth are still looking for ways to tan, to reach a misconceived social image of beauty. In an attempt to increase awareness about the dangers of tanning, the Handsworth grad council has committed to a tan-free grad challenge. We will collect pledges from our fellow Grade 12s vowing to practice safe sun care and not indoor tan for our graduation banquet. Our plan is to discourage harmful tanning and encourage natural beauty and good health.
Unfortunately education alone has proven inadequate in protecting youth from this dangerous exposure. The government of British Columbia has proposed legislation that would ban the use of indoor tanning beds to anyone under the age of 18. Our hope as students is that the B.C. government shows a dedication to protecting the health of youth by passing the legislation.
Along with my fellow grad council members, I would appreciate the support of fellow citizens in writing to the minister of health and supporting the legislation.
Rachael Bell-Irving
North Vancouver
