The Spectrum February 2009 13
Dangers of Tattoos JENNY CRAWFORD Features Editor
All your friends are doing it. of these things can be fatal and check vaccination status. Any- any medical conditions one may
It’s not a big deal. Everyone therefore, should be taken seri- one who hasn’t been vaccinated have and how they may affect
has one. Your parents have ously. in a while needs to update teta- getting a tattoo. Allergies are
probably heard them also something to discuss
all if you want a tattoo. with a doctor. Common
While it may seem like allergies that have serious
a trend or not a big deal, affects due of tattoos in-
tattoos have serious risks clude allergies against cod
and consequences that liver oil, latex, nickel, and
teens should be aware of mercury. Allergies may
before they “get inked.” not ruin a tattoo experi-
Getting a tattoo means ence completely, though.
having a needle pen- Using replacement equip-
etrate the skin and ink ment and avoiding certain
injected into it. Anytime colors can allow a person
something penetrates the to still get a tattoo and
skin, there is the poten- avoid an allergic reaction.
tial for contracting a dis- If all of this information
ease. The most common been convincing, then
and contagious risks of here’s the bottom line:
getting tattoos include in addition to harming
contracting Hepatitis B health, a serious infec-
and C, HIV or AIDS and tion will ruin a tattoo. It
various infections. One will have been a waste of
can also suffer from an aller- A good way to reduce the nus and hepatitis shots. money and skin if the tattoo be-
gic reaction to the equipment chances of contracting some- Another way to reduce the comes infected.
or ink. If contracted, any or all thing when getting a tattoo is to risks is to talk to a doctor about
What’s underneath all the ink: stories behind the tattoos
STEVEN TOENSING Opinions Editor
Many people know someone have tattoos are Kari Sebrowski
who has a tattoo; whether it’s and Olivia Jones. Sebrowski’s
a family member or a friend. tattoo is of a quarter note and
There are even people around a green star. The quarter note
BHS who have tattoos. Some represents that one quarter of
people have tattoos in memory her life has been lived and the
of a loved one, personal expres- green star stands for Sanibel
sion or another meaning. Island.
Jamie Kurth has a tattoo of Olivia Jones also has a very
musical notes and a heart on meaningful tattoo under her left
the back of her neck to express shoulder in memory of her fa-
her love for music, and she has ther.
the word “love” on her wrist. Tattoos are a growing trend
She also plans on getting angel among high school students
wings on her back when she here at BHS. Although tattoos
Sophomore Olivia Jones bears this tattoo in honor of her father. “Me, my older brother,
turns 18, to represent the free- may not be for everybody, these
and my older sister all got it on the one-year anniversary of my father passing away,”
dom of adulthood. students show that a tattoo may said Olivia Jones about her tattoo. “It says ‘In Loving Memory’ with his birthday, the
Some other BHS students who be a way to express one’s self. day of his death, and ‘R.I.P.’ In the middle is the Chinese symbol for ‘father’.”