How To: Get the Prom Committee to Offer Tanning Facts at Ticket Sales Tables

Millions of girls go to tanning salons every year just before prom to get their glow on for strapless and spaghetti-strap dresses. What they might not realize is that tanning beds are no healthier than sitting in the sun. In reality, the UVA radiation used in tanning beds is three times the amount of harmful radiation emitted by the sun. Here's how you can help educate these bronze-loving beauties:

1. Research. Find out who’s on the prom committee and make nice.
2. Get the schedule. Find out when the group is meeting and ask to talk to them briefly. Make sure you get the OK first—you don’t want to get on their bad side.
3. Get yourself together. Gather the most compelling skin cancer facts to share with the committee. Consider creating a fact sheet complete with catchy colors, wording and images.
4. Make your case. Go into the meeting prepared to discuss exactly why you want them to provide these facts at the ticket table and exactly how it will benefit the student body. Don’t forget that fact sheet!
5. Bargain. Offer to help out with the prom in exchange—maybe you can sign up to sell tickets or decorate.
6. Don't give up. If you don’t sway them or they appear hesitant, consider other approaches. Pluck at heart strings, figure out a way to get a school deal on spray tans, whatever works. The point is that you get the message out to the student body that tanning is dangerous.