Question

The principal purpose of doing a "safety check" before making an exposure is to:

a. ensure a quality radiographic image.
b. prevent radiation hazard to yourself.
c. protect the patient from unnecessary exposure.
d. prevent accidental exposure of co-workers.

Answer 1

The main purpose of a "safety check" prior to radiation exposure is to protect the patient from unnecessary exposure. It involves using shielding, maintaining proper distance, and limiting time of exposure to minimize risk of harm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principal purpose of doing a "safety check" before making an exposure is to protect the patient from unnecessary exposure to radiation. This practice is critical in medical imaging procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of patients as well as the staff involved. Radiation protection measures are vital to minimize potential harm and include strategies such as using shielding, maintaining distance, and reducing exposure time. These measures are based on the principles that radiation intensity drops with increased distance from the source, and the amount of exposure is less with more substantial shielding or shorter exposure time. Additionally, it is essential to prevent overexposure to X-rays which can lead to cancer, and to avoid accidental exposure during procedures such as CT scans.