Over the years, we have gained better understanding of the uses and dangers of radiation. While radiation has many applications in the hospital, its invisible and odorless nature may sometimes lead healthcare workers to become complacent in handling it safely.
There are two main reasons excessive radiation exposure arises in hospitals. The first reason is that healthcare workers who work with radiation have received only basic radiation training. Because they are unfamiliar with radiation safety practices, they do not employ the best risk-reduction techniques. Secondly, we often use far more radiation than necessary. Opting for higher imaging quality, for example, requires higher doses of radiation, and skews the balance away from operator and patient safety.
To improve radiation safety, requiring radiation safety courses for all healthcare workers working with or around radiation will help ensure they are trained and knowledgeable in standard safety practices. In addition, we need to foster good communication between healthcare teams, making sure everyone understands that radiation safety is his or her job and to speak up when he or she has any concerns. Dose reduction is also important. Oftentimes, radiation scatter from patients can expose workers to more radiation. Another safety mechanism is shielding, such as leaded glasses and protective drapes, which must be made available and used properly to prevent excess exposure. Lastly, knowledge of radiation equipment as well as the properties of radiation will allow workers to use the tools safely and effectively.
As we now recognize, radiation safety is crucial: reinforcing radiation safety practices is beneficial not only to the healthcare worker but also the patient. X-Z LAB is committed to improving radiation safety with our line of products. RadTarge II | Electronic Personal Dosimeter is a pager-like radiation detector that measures exposure of workers and responders in potentially hazardous environments. Using out patented technology, RadTarge II detects a wide range of gamma and X-ray radiation quickly and accurately, providing real-time readouts and alarms that allows workers to promptly respond and adjust when the radiation level becomes a danger.