Penhold is getting into the tanning business as the provincial government ramps up a public health campaign to expose the dangers of artificial sunbathing.
Though a motion to proceed with the outright purchase of a tanning bed for the public fitness centre died on a split decision, council members voted unanimously to allow administration to proceed with negotiations, which led to a purchase last week.
“I know we decided not to do a tanning bed last time because we didn't want to be in competition with a tanning bed presently located in the community,” said Mayor Dennis Cooper, noting the option was to buy out that business owner and hope to retain the clientele. “Also there's a whole health risk there and a liability risk there for tanning beds.”
Alberta is planning to make indoor tanning illegal for minors and a group of physicians alongside the Canadian Dermatology Association, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Alberta Public Health Association just doubled efforts to get the word out about the dangers of fake and bake skin solutions.
Coun. Chad Hoffman said plunking a tanning bed in the fitness centre would present a unique revenue opportunity for the town.
“People tan,” he said. “They'll come here to tan instead of going to Springbrook or Red Deer.”
Coun. Heather Klein said she didn't feel town administration had been provided with enough official business information to warrant supporting an outright purchase.
“I don't know the return on investment,” she said. “What was her client base? Was she losing money? Was it all of a sudden dropping off because it's a health risk and now she wants to offload it onto us? None of these questions have been answered yet.”
Brent Friesen, a medical officer of health with Alberta Health Services, said the province has become increasingly worried that residents are in harm's way under glowing lights without knowing the danger.
“Research shows that more than 10 indoor tanning sessions can double a person's risk of contracting melanoma,” he said. “That's the most common type of cancer among young adults.”
Friesen said while locating a tanning bed, which has no proven health benefits, in a public fitness centre may be ironic, it is understandable given the vast quantities of misinformation floating out there.
“I think it's likely that people aren't aware of the health risks that are associated with the tanning beds,” he said, putting these aesthetic treatments into the same bin as tobacco and asbestos. “It was really important to get that information out to young people.”
The province heated up labours to drive traffic to thebigburn.ca throughout March, after launching the prevention campaign last year with a wide variety of concerned doctors and non-governmental organizations.
“There's been a lot of social marketing that's been done to promote tanning,” he said. “That's why it's important to make sure people are informed through The Big Burn.”
Doug McNabb, president of the Joint Canadian Tanning Association, said in documents posted on the organization's website, commercial tanning beds account for just a six per cent increase to the risk of getting cancer, compared with 40 per cent for home units and 96 per cent for dermatologist administered UV phototherapy.
CAO Rick Binnendyk said administration would seek clarification on business concerns such as electrical information, maintenance requirements and the length of time to profitability.
“We have some ballpark numbers but we haven't got the specifics yet,” he said. “We just want the opportunity to possibly negotiate this.”
