How to Stay Safe Around X-Ray Equipment

X-rays penetrate the body and allow doctors to see what's going on inside. They provide a picture of internal structures that help doctors make an accurate diagnosis. There are risks, because of the radiation involved, but the amount of radiation exposure from one chest X-ray is equivalent to the exposure you experience from natural surroundings in 10 days. In most cases, the benefits of an X-ray far outweigh the dangers.

Instructions

• 1

  Wear lead body aprons and shields. Both protect patients from radiation, though modern equipment filters out unnecessary X-rays and restricts the X-ray beam to the area of interest.

• 2

  Leave the room. Anyone who is not covered in a lead apron and shield should leave the X-ray room before the image is taken. Even though the radiation is aimed at the person in the chair, it's still risky to be in the room at all.

• 3

  Use with care. Radiologists and X-ray technicians are trained to use the minimum amount of radiation necessary to obtain the image they need. Radiation is released only when a switch is turned on quickly. Once it's turned off, no radiation remains in the room.

• 4

  Inform doctor if you may be pregnant. Medical X-rays don't pose a tremendous risk to your baby, but there is a small chance of causing illness or other complication. It depends on how far along you are with the pregnancy.