TRIGGER 5

August 31, 2022

➢ Apal, Grethel Mae
➢ Ballentos, Winkaiser Fradisson
➢ Danila, Kathleen
➢ De Vera, Jhon Michael
➢ Galo, Alliah Yurih
➢ Garcia, Rominna Beatrice
➢ Mansueto, Kyla Camille
➢ Maquiling, Riel Laurence
➢ Otadoy, Rizza Mae
➢ Palacio, Daryl June
➢ Pamakid, Karl Rafael
➢ Tan, Maxene Jhay
➢ Tapayan, Jovial Zenith Ray

College of Radiologic Technology

 Trigger 5

Cooper works as a Fluoroscopy Technologist. He always keeps his

distance from the patient when doing exposures. He also wears
protective apparel like his lead apron, goggles and lead gloves. When
dealing with infant patients, he makes sure that the watchers are
protected against radiation too and he makes them wear the same
apparel he wears. He always tries to examine the patient at low
doses, and he does this by minimizing exposure time and putting on
patient shielding whenever it is necessary.
 Guide Questions:
1. Does Cooper apply the cardinal principles of radiation protection in his work?
A. What are the cardinal principles of radiation protection?
B. How was Cooper able to apply them?
2. When dealing with infant patients, what practice must be done?
3. Does Cooper apply the ALARA principle in his work?
4. What are the aims of radiation protection like how Cooper protected himself and the watchers
from radiation exposure?
A. Is there a limit of radiation dose for Cooper as a Technologist?
B. Is there a limit of radiation dose for the watchers as part of the general public?
1. Does Cooper apply the cardinal principles of radiation protection in his
work?

➢ Yes, because since Cooper

keeps his distance from the
patient when doing exposures,
wears protective apparel,
minimizes exposure time, and
putting on patient shielding
shows that Cooper apply the
cardinal principles of radiation
protection.
A. What are the cardinal principles of radiation protection?
➢ Three cardinal principles of radiation protection developed for nuclear
activities—time, distance, and shielding—find equally useful application in
diagnostic imaging. When these cardinal principles are observed, radiation
exposure can be minimized.
Minimize Time
➢ The dose to an individual is directly
related to the duration of radiation
exposure. If the time during which
one is exposed to radiation is
doubled, the exposure will be TIME
doubled, as follows: Exposure = Exposure rate × Exposure time
A. What are the cardinal principles of radiation protection?
Maximize Distance
➢ As the distance between the source of radiation
and the person increases, radiation exposure
decreases rapidly. This decrease in exposure is
calculated using the inverse square law.
Use Shielding
➢ Positioning shielding between the radiation source
and exposed persons greatly reduces the level of
radiation exposure. Shielding used in diagnostic
radiology usually consists of lead, although
conventional building materials also are used.
B. How was Cooper able to apply them?

ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable)

is a radiation safety principle that was
established to minimize radiation doses and
the release of radioactive materials into the
environment. Cooper was able to apply them
by keeping the time of radiation exposure as
short as possible as any amount of radiation
exposure increases negative health effects
since radiation can damage the DNA in our
cells.
B. How was Cooper able to apply them?
Radiation at high doses can cause cancer and even lead to death. Infants, young
children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune
systems are more vulnerable to these health effects compared to healthy
adults. Cooper also maintain an exact distance as the further away you’re from
the radioactive source, the better. By keeping a safe distance from Xray
sources, you ultimately decrease your dose. He maximize the distance and
avoid picking a strong radiation. And he also put a shielding material between
both the source of radiation and the person if it is necessary to add another
protective measure against the effect of radiation.
2. When dealing with infant patients, what practice must be done?

APPROACHING THE CHILD

➢ Naturally, good communication is
essential to obtaining maximum
cooperation. Children should be
spoken to at their level in words
that they can understand. This is
not as difficult as learning a new
language, and it can be made even
easier if the radiographer keeps a
few strategies in mind, as follows:
2. When dealing with infant patients, what practice must be done?
• Greet the patient and parent in the waiting area with a smile.
• Bend down to talk to the child at the child’s eye level.
• Introduce yourself and state briefly what you are going to do.
• Use sincere praise.
• Employ distraction techniques.
• Answer all questions truthfully.
Infants (Children 6 months to 2 years old)
➢ Particularly fearful of pain, separation from their parents, and limitation of
their freedom of movement.
➢ Natural sleep. The challenge is to complete the entire radiographic
sequence without waking the child.
2. When dealing with infant patients, what practice must be done?
Children 2 to 4 years old (Preschoolers)
➢ Give explanations at the child’s eye level by bending down or by sitting the child on the
radiographic or scanner table.
➢ Use the camera analogy to describe the x-ray tube, taking care to explain that the tube
may move sideways but will never come down and touch the child.
➢ Avoid any unnecessary equipment manipulation.
➢ Encourage the child gently as the child attempts to cooperate.
Children 2 to 4 years old
➢ Can be verbally and physically aggressive.
➢ Making the procedure as short as possible.
Children 5 years old
➢ Constant reassurance and simple explanations.
3. Does Cooper apply the ALARA principle in his work?

PRINCIPLES OF ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable)

➢ It means avoiding exposure to radiation that does not have a direct
benefit to you, even if the dose is small.
REDUCE RADIATION EXPOSURE
Time
➢ Reducing the time of exposure can directly reduce radiation dose. Dose rate
is the total amount of radiation absorbed relative to its biological effect.
Dose rate is the rate at which the radiation is absorbed. Limiting the time of
radiation exposure will reduce your radiation dose.
3. Does Cooper apply the ALARA principle in his work?

Distance
➢ Increasing the distance between you and the radiation source you will
reduce exposure by the square of the distance.
Shielding
➢ Lead or lead equivalent shielding for X-rays and gamma rays is an effective
way to reduce radiation exposure.
We reasonably think that Cooper has applied the ALARA principles.
Considering that he has followed the basic premises of reducing radiation
exposure: Time, Distance and Shielding.
4. What are the aims of radiation protection like how Cooper protected
himself and the watchers from radiation exposure?
A. Is there a limit of radiation dose for Cooper as a Technologist?
Name: Symbol:

Milli m

Seivert Sv

Rem rem

Yes, the recommended dose limit for radiologic personnel is 0.5 Sv/yr (5000 mrem/yr),
experience has shown that considerably lower exposures than this are routine. The
occupational radiation exposure of radiologic personnel engaged in general x-ray activity
normally should not exceed 1 mSv/yr (100 mrem/yr).
4. What are the aims of radiation protection like how Cooper protected
himself and the watchers from radiation exposure?
A. Is there a limit of radiation dose for Cooper as a Technologist?
B. Is there a limit of radiation dose for the watchers as part of the general
public?

➢ Yes, since the total effective dose

equivalent to individual members of
the public from the licensed
operation does not exceed 0.1 rem.
In fact dose limits are a fundamental
component of radiation protection,
and breaching these limits is against
radiation regulation in most
countries.
 Concept Map:
TRIGGER 5

THE CARDINAL HOW TO DEAL PRINCIPLES OF LIMIT OF RADIATION

PRINCIPLES OF WITH INFANT ALARA (As Low DOSE
RADIATION PATIENTS As Reasonably
PROTECTION Achievable)

For Technologist:
Greet the patient
Use Means avoiding exposure to Recommended dose limit
and parent in the
Shielding radiation that does not have for radiologic personnel
waiting area with a
a direct benefit to you, even is
smile.
if the dose is small.
0.5 Sv/yr (5000 mrem/yr,
Maximize
engaged in general x-ray
Distance Bend down to talk
activity normally should
to the child at the REDUCE RADIATION EXPOSURE not exceed 1 mSv/yr
child’s eye level.
(100 mrem/yr).
Minimize
Time
 Time
Introduce yourself  Distance
and state briefly what  Shielding
For Watchers
you are going to do.
Total effective dose
equivalent to individual
members of the public
Use sincere praise.
from the licensed
operation does not exceed
0.1 rem.
Employ
distraction
techniques.

Answer all
questions
truthfully.
 References:
1.) Versant Physics. (2021). ALARA: The Gold Standard Of Radiation Protection . Retrieved from Versant:
https://versantphysics.com/2021/04/08/alara-the-gold-standard-of-radiation-protection/

Attention required! (n.d.). Attention Required! | Cloudflare. https://www.ramsoft.com/alara-

principle/?fbclid=IwAR19eI3UCEtOhA32rl5KgkatuHWKQtIvfvULKuPpk7lM-vQvMBRcn8XeHaQ

2.) Themes, U. (2016, March 4). Pediatric imaging. Radiology Key. https://radiologykey.com/pediatric-
imaging/?fbclid=IwAR0hbVy-BBhsnJzpUGKoKwh4O2Xhwxlz6N_a7GVwg14VBZw8ugAdiWY0CxI

3.) ALARA - As low as reasonably achievable. (2022, May 18). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/alara.html?fbclid=IwAR0JcyJNWWSSSUC4KzXxbxeqQUfeEvZlInDmx0
6TCvwbTT8Ly6_z5ZiL1pU

4.) Bushong, S. C., Radiologic Science for Technologists - Physics, Biology, and Protection. 10th Edition.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uBP1gRsYG4UW2OkWSq60KH0-BtkR1Tsf/view?usp=sharing
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