The radiation staff may observe the brain or other parts of the human body.
Hospitals typically perform radiation procedures and radiation therapy. A team of radiation therapists will perform these types of procedures on patients. They use radiation to treat or heal cancer or tumors. Radiation can also look for any hidden health problems the patient may have. Hospitals must undergo certain educational requirements to ensure the safety of their patients and staff when performing radiation procedures.
Training Staff
Those who enter the field of radiation must go through a rigorous hands-on training session. This training typically occurs at the hospital. The hospital must provide five types of training: principles of radiation protection; radiation measurements and monitoring; proper working conditions and compliance with regulations; radiation risks; and exposure limits and biological effects, according to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Hospitals also provide other types of training programs to increase safety with radiation. Training often includes safely administer radiation, reporting unsafe conditions, potential hazards and licensing requirements. Those who want to perform radiation must hold a state license.
Rules and Procedures
The radiation staff must make sure that they are using the tools and equipment safely. They should know administer the radiation to their patients. This can help lower the risks and effects of radiation. The staff should also protect both themselves and their patients when administering the radiation. This means covering any body parts that could have exposure. This also helps prevent the spread of radiation from one person to another.
Other rules and regulations include having the patient remove any jewelry or metal accessories that may interfere with the radiation procedure. The radiation staff should also maintain proper storage and handling of the radiation tools and equipment once the procedure is over.
Annual Safety Training
Hospitals must maintain annual safety training with their radiation staff. Another name for these regulations is ALARA, or As Low As Reasonably Achievable. These regulations are broken up by time, shielding, distance and controlling contamination. Time includes knowing the necessary amount of time to use radiation on the exposed area. Shielding includes providing protection to patients and radiation staff. Distance education involves applying a radioactive substance at a greater distance, and controlling contamination means using protective equipment to keep contamination off of the patients' bodies. The radiation staff would use absorbent pads on the patient, while wearing lab coats and gloves to protect themselves. The radiation staff must learn these safety procedures in order to provide a safe radiation procedure to their patients.
Tags: radiation staff, their patients, administer radiation, controlling contamination, distance controlling
