By: Georgiana

Radiation Karapatakis

safety
brochure.
Welcome patients! View our brochure to help answer some
of your questions/concerns about radiation safety before
your exam.

● There are three main components of radiation protection important

for safety. Time, distance and shielding. (Further explanation
continued)
● A quick definition of this is, “Least amount of time exposed, greater
distance from the source of radiation, use of lead apron or other
barriers to shield”(76).
● DO NOT WORRY! It is our job to not only protect you but us as well,
you are in good hands.
FAQ’s

Why do you use a lead apron during an x ray?

The apron can stop at least 90% of radiation from entering the body. They are used to protect you and us from a dangerous exposure amount
which is why we use them.

What happens if your exposed to too much radiation?

Radiation sickness occurs when high-energy radiation damages or destroys certain cells in your body. Along with many other health conditions
such as Skin burns, cancer, cardiovascular disease.

What is a dosimeter? Do I have to wear one too?

No need to worry about this! It’s what we wear on a collar level outside the apron. A dosimeter is designed to monitor exposure and serve as a
tool to alert an individual based on their work activities. If radiation dose readings exceed unhealthy levels of radiation exposure.

What's a gonadal shield?

This protects women and men’s reproductive organs.

 Time
● Time refers to the amount of time you spend near radiation, in
which it is our job to try and keep your exposure time to a
minimum.
● The guiding principle of radiation safety is “ALARA”. ALARA
stands for “as low as reasonably achievable”. This principle
means that even if it is a small dose, if receiving that dose has
no direct benefit, you should try to avoid it ( Radiation Studies).
To do this, you can use three basic protective measures in
radiation safety: time, distance, and shielding.
Distance
● Distance is maintaining space from the source. “Researchers have
proven distance can be employed to reduce the amount of
exposure..” (104).
● This is an easy way to protect yourself because distance and
dose are inversely related. If you increase your distance, you
decrease your dose.
 Shielding from ionizing radiation

- Shielding is protecting yourself against radioactive contamination by

using proper protective clothing. Examples of this is gonadal shield,
apron, thyroid shields. personal radiation dosimeters. Other examples
are glasses, googles, gloves and masks
- When appropriate, placing a shield between yourself and the source.
Citations:
Radiation Exposure Protection.
ehs.stanford.edu/manual/radiation-protection-guidance-hospital-staff/radiation-exposure-protection

“Radiation Studies - CDC: Radiation Safety.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Dec. 2015, www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/safety.html.

Introduction to Radiologic Technology, 8Th Edition, by William J. Callaway , Elsevier Mosby, 2019.