Tanning bed games have kids in their sights

Attention all parents: there are thousands of free children’s tanning bed games online, many featuring (unauthorized) “Disney Princesses” and “Barbies.” Some of the popular characters are pregnant, sending the message that tanning is safe and fun, when in reality tanning beds are carcinogenic and are banned for minors in all Canadian provinces.

Urban Public Health Network’s medical officers of health recently asked Heath Canada to require heath-care providers (not salon staff) to prescreen individuals prior to commercial tanning. They want prominent and graphic health warnings on the outside of tanning beds.

In 2012, the Canadian Pediatric Society indicated a tax should be imposed on all commercial tanning bed operations, harmonized with levies on tobacco. And recently, the Canadian Nurses Association, the vice-president of Canadian Catholic Physicians and the vice-president for patient and public engagement of the Canadian Medical Association, all tweeted our minister of Health in support of this recommendation.

We need to curb the rising skin cancer complacently in this country. (We also need to curb rising health-care costs.) The federal government should act on expert advice to reduce unnecessary human suffering and mortality. We don’t want little Princess and Barbie fans to be part of a growing skin cancer epidemic.

Linda Jeaurond Victoria, B.C.