Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 20/98) - City health officials are warning people about a Yellowknife man believed to be offering tattoos using homemade equipment that could spread blood-borne diseases such as HIV.

Brad Colpitts, senior environmental health officer, said health officials were alerted a month ago about a man in his early 20s giving homemade tattoos to high school students in his home.

"The school nurses first brought it to our attention," Colpitts said.

"We know it's several (people with tattoos), but we hope it's not many."

He said health officials are also aware of a business card the phoney tattoo artist was circulating.

Colpitts maintains the way the tattoos were done provides every opportunity for blood diseases to be transmitted.

"It was home-jigged equipment that wasn't sterilized," he said.

Freddy Squires, owner of Harley's and the New Moon Hair Saloon which occasionally bring up southern tattoo artists, said he had talked with two adults who also had the tattooing done and warned them about the dangers associated with the homemade equipment.

"They were telling me that he was using guitar strings, a walkman motor, and a Bic pen," Squires said.

"It's like having unprotected sex, playing Russian roulette," he said.

Squires, who has spent 60-70 hours getting tattoos all over his body, cautions people who are considering getting decorated.

"I don't know anybody with the (right) equipment here in town," he said. "There is a right process and a wrong process."

And this is the unsafe way to get a tattoo, he added.

Colpitts said tattooing is closely monitored by the health department.

"Because tattooing has the potential to spread a variety of serious illnesses, it is crucial that it be done under safe conditions, which means properly designed and maintained equipment and safe procedures, including sterilization."

Colpitts urges anyone who believes they might have had contact with someone performing tattoos without approval from the Stanton Regional Health Board and a valid business licence to contact public health.

"What we're advocating...is that anyone who has received a tattoo -- kids will know if they've been in contact with this person -- we suggest that they come in to Public Health for possible blood tests and counselling," he said.

RCMP are also investigating.