Katianna Nightingale urges Gov. Jerry Brown to sign Tanning Bill to Prevent Cancer
September 21, 2011 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Business, News
On Wednesday, September 21, Ms. Katianna Nightingale
Ms. Nightingale spoke at this press conference with Senator Ted Lieu and urged Gov. Jerry Brown to sign SB 746 that protects minors from tanning bed dangers. Ms. Nightingale who previously used tanning beds frequently, is a melanoma survivor and knows first-hand the hidden dangers of these machines.
Other speakers at the conference, who strongly support Katianna’s position on protecting our children and the public at large from these dangers included health experts Dr. Jenny Kim an Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Dr. Linda Wong, Regional Chief of Dermatology for Kaiser Permanente; and Dr. Robert Adler, Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics and Director of Medical Education for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. They educated the press, authorities and public about the alarming rise in the number of young melanoma patients and the life threatening link to tanning bed use.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, melanoma a deadly form of skin cancer is a rising epidemic and the leading cause of cancer death for women between 25 and 29. It is second only to breast cancer in women ages 30-34 and is the second most common form of cancer for adolescents 15-29 years old.
Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the United States annually and of these 2.3 million are teens. Using a tanning bed only once under the age of 30 increases one’s risk of getting melanoma by an incredible 75%. Based on her life experience with the dangers of tanning beds and melanoma, Katianna Nightingale not only became an activist to help save lives but created Aqua Tan, a luxury line of natural self tanning products so people could get a great looking safe tan year round without exposing themselves to the dangerous radiation of tanning beds or lying in the sun. www.aquatan.tv .
“This bill is not about taking away parents’ rights. This is about protecting children from “The Big C” that is Melanoma. We need to send out a message that California cares about its kids! We cannot allow the $5 billion Tanning Bed Lobby to hoodwink the public and our children like the Tobacco Lobby does. It’s time to take a stand and make the politicians responsible for doing the right thing for their children and ours.” firmly states Ms. Nightingale.
The World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as such an extreme danger to public health that it lists it as a level 1 carcinogen – the same as plutonium, arsenic and cigarettes.
Ms Nightingale further states, “It wouldn’t make sense for us to allow parental consent forms for minors to drink coffee laced with arsenic. It wouldn’t make sense for us to allow parental consent forms for minors to smoke or drink, and it certainly doesn’t make sense for us to allow our minor children to use these cancer causing, harmful radiation devices.”
The UV radiation emitted from tanning beds is proven to be at least five times stronger than the midday sun, and the UV rays penetrate much deeper causing lowered immune systems according to the Canadian Cancer Society, and as a result this can lead to a higher predisposition to other cancers.
“I started using tanning beds when I was 15. My mother thought it was a novel concept and encouraged it. I bought into the myth that tanning beds were safer than going into the sun so I started using tanning beds once a week from the time I was twenty on. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with melanoma and was lying on an operating table that I realized how dangerous these safe tanning beds are.” relates Katianna from her personal experience.
Katianna started an on-line skin cancer resource center, and has spoken nationally to so many people who have suffered grueling ordeals with melanoma, skin grafts, chemotherapy, and life changing disfigurements. “Too many young lives have been cut unnecessarily short all because they used tanning beds. Tanning bed victims share the familiar chorus: ‘I thought using tanning beds was pretty safe.’ It is mandatory and important that we get the word out about how dangerous tanning beds really are. The victims ask; ‘Why didn’t the government protect us why are tanning beds allowed to operate.’ It is the tanning bed victims and their parents who are actually leading the struggle to get this type of legislation passed all over the world.”
“This bill is about protecting the health and lives of young people, and protecting the parents from suffering through this type of ordeal with their child. The bill is supported by numerous groups, including the California Medical Association, Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Bill is sponsored by California Society of Dermatology & Dermatological Surgery and the AIM Melanoma organization.
“California is a trend setting state and the land of health and fitness. Governor Brown has an opportunity to be a beacon of light on this issue and lead the way for other states around the country to sign similar legislation. The clock is ticking.” On behalf of all the melanoma victims Katianna Nightingale implores Governor Brown to stand up to the tanning bed lobby and send a clear signal that tanning beds are dangerous. “We must encourage him to sign California Indoor Tanning Bill – SB 746 to protect teenagers and parents from the dangers of these cancer beds.”
Katianna urges as many people as possible to sign and circulate the petition to get this bill passed. It can be found online at: http://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php
Gov. Brown only has until October 9th to sign this bill, which prohibits minors from using tanning beds, details are found at this link SB 746 . The Golden State would be the first in the nation with such a needed ban.
Sources: Prestige Image PR, Valinsky Media
Photo credit to: Prestige Image PR
Video credit to: Youtube.com/khasb
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