WATCH ABOVE: A tanning bed ban for teens could soon be law in Alberta. As Kendra Slugoski reports, there is a push for parents to warn their kids about the potential dangers.
EDMONTON — The Alberta government is expected to introduce tanning bed legislation next week, but the health minister isn’t revealing what it will look like.
Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces that don’t have any regulations restricting the use of tanning beds by people under the age of 18.
Alberta Health Services has launched a radio and online campaign urging parents to talk to their teens about tanning beds. The topic is just as important as smoking and safe sex, AHS says.
The Big Burn campaign encourages parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of tanning and includes resources and information on the subject.
READ MORE: Alberta tanning bed bill set to be introduced this spring
The campaign is targeting parents because research shows the risk of skin cancer increases significantly if teens use tanning beds.
“Amongst 17-year-old girls about a third of them have used tanning beds,” explains Dr. Gerry Predy, AHS Senior Medical Officer of Health.
“If you start tanning at that young of an age you’re really increasing the risk of skin cancer.”
READ MORE: Alberta needs to ban tanning beds for teens to reduce skin cancer, minister says
According to AHS, 10 sessions can double the risk of the deadliest skin cancer.
“The more you expose yourself to ultraviolet radiation, the more chance you have of getting it at a young age,” says Predy.
“If you do expose yourself as a teenager, you increase your risk later on in life.”
AHS says 600 cases of melanoma are diagnosed in Alberta every year.
It is not clear if the government intends to pass the legislation this spring or hold it until it can gather public comment.
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