Schoolgirl suffers first degree burns after 19 minutes in tanning salon .

A schoolgirl suffered first degree burns over most of her body after only 19 minutes in an unmanned tanning salon.





Kirsty McRae, 14, ended up on a drip in hospital after suffering 70 per cent
burns.

She had put £1 into the coin-operated sunbed at the walk-in salon, but after
four minutes Kirsty felt she wasn't getting tanned enough so paid £3 for
another 15 minutes.

She left the salon in pain and was rushed into hospital four hours later
suffering from the horrific burns.

Doctors put her on a drip and administered oxygen while they rehydrated her.

Environmental health officers were on Thursday carrying out an investigation
at the Laxtan salon in Barry, South Wales.

Kirsty's mother, Jill McRae, 49, admitted her daughter should not have been in
the salon because she is under 16, but said there is nothing to stop young
people from using them.

Mrs McRae, a health and safety officer, said: "Kirsty is partly
responsible for what has happened to her.

"But it just beggars belief that anyone can put money into a slot and do
this amount of damage to themselves.

"These sunbeds and unmanned salons pose an enormous risk to all potential
users."

Kirsty, from Barry, currently has to apply lotion every few hours to soothe
the burns.

She said: "I was feeling pale and just wanted a tan - I had no idea they
were so dangerous.

"It was my first time using a sunbed and after four minutes I couldn't
tell any difference.

"I put another £3 in the slot but as soon as I'd finished I knew
something was wrong."

Julie Barratt, director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in
Wales, said: "We have been calling for unmanned sun tanning salons to
be banned for some time.

"As this unfortunate case demonstrates, there is no effective control
over who uses such facilities and how they are used."

British Medical Association spokesman John Jenkins said: "We do not
recommend the use of tanning devices for cosmetic purposes because of the
potential risks to health associated with their use.

"Unmanned, coin-in-the-slot sun bed machines are particularly bad."

James Hadley, who owns Laxtan, said: "I'm upset to hear about the
incident but I operate within the law.

"It's unfortunate someone chose to ignore the warnings about sun beds.

"I have posters all over the shop and on the doors."

He said a member of staff is present every day between 3pm and 4pm and 7pm and
9pm.








I am sorry but if they can do that much damage in such a short time , the should be banned. What are your thoughts ?

When will people learn????? it is a well known fact that they are dangerous........Banning is ok yes - but it just means we need a 'Nanny State' if we cannot see the dangers of something like sun-beds!!!! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

maybe the owners should be prosecuted for allowing underage teenagers to use the beds.maybe the parents should take more responsibility for the lives of their children

Digger wrote:[b]........Kirsty's mother, Jill McRae, 49, ...... a health and safety officer, said: "Kirsty is partly responsible for what has happened to her.".......

Oh really!!!!

Kirsty is partly responsible!!! So....... the mum is a Health & Safety person and she has not taught her daughter to read warnings! Hmmmmm...... says a lot doesn't it!

I'm afraid it tells you everything about our over protected world.The state will protect you from everything.No need to think for yourself,thats assuming your allowed to anymore.

i personally feel salons, (unmanned) like this should be closed down tout de suite!

Who's there to enforce age limits and ID them? Who's there to supervise the tanners and advise them? Are you covered by the firms insurance?

Doubt this young lass was covered as she was underage, but if she pled ignorance, would she get a payout?