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26 • Touchline • Issue 15
AT
RISK
In January this year a 15-year-old girl suffered ‘excruciating’
burns after she was illegally allowed to use a sunbed in a gym
in the UK. She spent the day on a hospital drip and missed three
weeks of school after she developed agonising blisters to her
chest, back, legs and face.
Stewart Hall, the former owner of the Olympic Power Mill gym,
was one of the first to be prosecuted under UK sunbed safety
legislation for youngsters. He was fined £500 and ordered to
pay £1,500 after he admitted three charges under the Sunbeds
(Regulation) Act 2010, which is designed to protect under-18s
from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, the main cause of
skin cancer.
According to court reports, the girl used the bed twice in two
days in May 2012. She had not used a sunbed before, was not
asked to prove her age or given protective goggles. She also
received no safety instructions during her visits with a friend,
who was allowed to sit in the same ‘restricted zone’ containing
the sunbed. Two days later, her skin began to blister and she was
taken to North Manchester General Hospital.
A study by Cancer Research UK shows that six per cent of 11 to
17-year-olds in England - including half of all 15 to 17-year-olds
in Liverpool and Sunderland - use sunbeds to achieve a year-
round tan.
Also, in Ireland a women was awarded €17,500 damages and
costs when she was left with first degree burns following her
first ever visit to a tanning salon. She described how she looked
like she had been “fried” after the ordeal. She warned other
women to “stay away from sunbeds” that left her with burns to
80 per cent of her body.
The woman was planning a holiday to Spain and decided to
get a ‘base’ tan beforehand at Annette Salon Fryzierski at Castle
Gate, Lord Edward Street, Dublin, in August 2010.
She was a first time user and claims she was not given adequate
advice about the safe usage of the sunbed. She sued the owners
on the grounds of negligence in allowing her to use the sunbed
for an unsafe length and at an unsafe power setting.
‘At Risk’ is a new regular feature which highlights
recent news stories about some of the accidents
and injuries that occur in the sport and leisure
world. Risk is present in our everyday lives even
when we are playing sport and having fun.
Here we report some of the more tragic and
bizarre events that lead to injury and sometimes
even death in our industry.
SUNBEDS TOO HOT TO HANDLE
© ALEXIS O’TOOLE