Our take on Tattoo safety - Orlando Sentinel

[Guest guest]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-quickhits-020610-20100205,0,58\

88846.story

Our take on Tattoo safety

Getting inked

Seeking to leave an indelible mark on body art fans, Rep. Brandenburg,

D-West Palm Beach, is pushing legislation to enhance tattoo safety.

Under this sensible measure, the state Department of Health would license tattoo

artists, and require first-time applicants to attend a course on blood-borne

pathogens. No one under 16 could get inked — except for medical reasons. And

anyone under 18 getting tattooed would need a guardian present.

Tattooing invites the risk of blood-borne diseases including hepatitis and HIV.

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of serious

antibiotic-resistant skin infections at tattoo parlors that skimp on safety

procedures.

Lawmakers should approve this safeguard so ink-lovers don't go away with

something scarier than lions on their biceps.

, Orlando Sentinel

[Guest guest]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-quickhits-020610-20100205,0,58\

88846.story

Our take on Tattoo safety

Getting inked

Seeking to leave an indelible mark on body art fans, Rep. Brandenburg,

D-West Palm Beach, is pushing legislation to enhance tattoo safety.

Under this sensible measure, the state Department of Health would license tattoo

artists, and require first-time applicants to attend a course on blood-borne

pathogens. No one under 16 could get inked — except for medical reasons. And

anyone under 18 getting tattooed would need a guardian present.

Tattooing invites the risk of blood-borne diseases including hepatitis and HIV.

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of serious

antibiotic-resistant skin infections at tattoo parlors that skimp on safety

procedures.

Lawmakers should approve this safeguard so ink-lovers don't go away with

something scarier than lions on their biceps.

, Orlando Sentinel