Pediatric Radiation Safety

Pediatric Radiation Safety is an online continuing education course designed to help radiologic technologists understand the quality principles used to ensure the safe and appropriate use of digital radiography in children. Because radiography procedures represent 85% of all ionizing exposure in children, because pediatric patients are up to 10 times more sensitive to ionizing radiation than adults, it is critical for technologists to have a firm grasp of radiation safety and protection when performing pediatric imaging examinations.

With that in mind, this course covers the basic principles of digital radiography (DR) and its advantages over analog film screening and computed radiography in reducing the pediatric patient dose. It also highlights the challenges presented in acquiring DR diagnostic images in the pediatric population, including proper immobilization, addressing family concerns, and childrens’ responses to verbal direction. You will also learn about the proper use of shielding, balancing ALARA, lead aprons and half shields, short exposure times, limited views, and close collimation as these apply to imaging children.

Pediatric Radiation Safety is a suitable course for novice and veteran technologists technologists alike, and is both accessible to and appropriate for students in radiologic technology programs who want to enhance their understanding of radiation protection practices when dealing specifically with pediatric imaging.