Education about radiation protection and a comprehensive guide to radiation protection aprons, apparel and other radiation protection equipment including: - Radiation protection is the protection of the people from harmful effects of ionized radiation which include both particle radiation and high energy electromagnetic radiation. - Kilovolt Peak is the component that controls the grayscale & contrast quality of the x-ray beam produced. - Typical 0.5-mm lead equivalent apron or thyroid shield will provide approximately 95% attenuation of scattered fluoroscopy x-rays. - Radiation apron styles and features including vests and kilts, coat aprons, quick-drop aprons, weight relieving aprons and custom aprons.

1. AliMed Guide to Radiation Protection
Aprons
A Comprehensive Line of Radiation
Protection Apparel and Equipment
1

2. Contents
• What is Radiation Protection?
• Potential Areas for Exposure
• Buying Aprons – Customer Guide
– Radiation Facts
– Styles of Aprons
– Thyroid Shields
– Apron Fitting
• Other Radiation Protection Products

3. Radiation Protection
Radiation protection is the protection of
the people from harmful effects of ionized
radiation which include both particle
radiation and high energy electromagnetic
radiation.

4. A.L.A.R.A.
What is A.L.A.R.A.?
An acronym for As Low As Reasonably
Achievable. This is a radiation safety principle
for minimizing radiation doses and releases of
radioactive materials by employing all
reasonable methods. ALARA is not only a
sound safety principle, but it is a regulatory
requirement for all radiation safety programs.

5. Radiation Facts
• kVp: Kilovolt Peak is the component that controls
the grayscale & contrast quality of the x-ray beam
produced.
• Setting the kVp at “80”, the maximum kilovolt that will
be produced is 80 kV, or 80,000 volts

6. Radiation Facts – Lead Equivalency
kVp .35 mm Pb
Equivalency
.5mm Pb
Equivalency
80 91% Blocked 95% Blocked
90 88% Blocked 93% Blocked
100 86% Blocked 92% Blocked

7. Radiation Facts – Effects of Exposure
• Chronic low dose irradiation over a considerable
period of time or few exposures giving a high dose
• Clinical Features
• Scaling ,warty growth on hands
• Skin cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Cataract formation
• Compromised bone marrow can lead to fatal anemia and
leukemia
• Premature ageing
• Growth and development of fetus and young children

8. The Importance of Radiation Protection
Health risk Estimated Loss of Life
Expectancy
Smoking 20 cigarettes a day 6 years
Overweight by 15% 2 years
Alcohol consumption (U.S. Average) 1 years
Agricultural accidents 320 days
Construction accidents 227 days
Auto accidents 207 days
Home accidents 74 days
Occupational Radiation dose (1 rem/yr), from
age 18 – 65 (47 rem total)
51 days
All natural hazards (hurricane, earthquake,
flood)
7 days
Medical radiation 6 days

9. Buying an Apron: Facts
• A typical 0.5-mm lead equivalent apron or thyroid
shield will provide approximately 95% attenuation of
scattered fluoroscopy x-rays
• All AliMed Aprons and Thyroid Shields are .5mmPb

10. Steps to Buying an Apron
Do you need Front and back protection?
– Clinician turns their back to the beam
– Movement within the OR during fluoroscopy
#1. Determine apron style

11. Steps to Buying an Apron
• 1st Determine the style of Apron
• What is your role? Do you want 1 or 2 pieces?
– Cardiac catheterization:
• In lab for 5-8 hours at a time
• Prefer vest and kilts
– Interventional Radiology:
• Often wear front and back protection – vest and kilts

12. Steps to Buying an Apron
• Determine the Style of Apron
• Do You want 1 or 2 piece?
– Standard vest: loose fit
– Reverse Vest: To achieved a snug fit:
• Shrug shoulders,
• Tighten the attachment points
• Un-shrug

13. Apron Styles – 2 Piece
• Standard Vest & Kilt
Attaches with hook & loop inside front panel
Full .5 mm front protection &.25mm back protection
• Reverse Vest & Kilt
Snug fit is distribute weight on the body
Attaches with hook & loop at the shoulder and waist tabs
Full .5 mm front protection &.25mm back protection

14. Apron Styles – 1 Piece
• Coat Apron
Fully adjustable Back-Saver belt for lumbar
support
Wraps around the body
Redistributes weight from shoulder to hips
Full .5 mm front protection &.25mm back
protection

15. Steps to Buying an Apron
• 1st Determine the style of Apron
• Do you need front protection?
• What is your role?
– Surgeon: Quick Drop, Adjustable Quick drop 2 & 4 point
release at the shoulder and hips Adjustable Quick Drop
easier to put on due to arm holes
– Radiology: Most popular styles are Weight Reliever, Flex
Weight Reliever and Back Aid

16. Apron Styles
• Quick Drop
Easy to Remove
Two Point quick release at the waist
This style is typically worn by the Surgeon
• Adjustable Quick Drop
Easy to Remove/Easy to put on
Two Point quick release at the waist & Two
Point release at the shoulder

17. Apron Styles
• Weight Reliever
Criss-crossed shoulder straps for easy on/off
Two Point quick release at the waist
• Flex Weight Reliever
Criss -crossed shoulder straps for easy on/off
Two Point quick release at the waist
Elasticized back for close fit and support
Shoulder strap for security

18. Apron Styles
• Back Aid Apron
Fully adjustable Back saver belt for lumbar
support
Shoulder strap for security
Redistributes weight from shoulder to
hips

19. Apron Styles
• Tie Apron
Soft 1 ” ties criss-crossed shoulder straps
Shoulder strap for security
Economical

20. Thyroid Shields
• Thyroid Shields
• Attached or Unattached
• Material match the Apron whether Grab n Go
or Personalized/Perfect Fit
• .5mm Pb equivalency

21. Buying an Apron: Guiding the Customer
• 2nd Determine the weight
Weights* Material LBS *
Ultralight Lead Free 100% antimony 7.2 lbs
Lead free Antimony &
Tungsten
8.0lbs
Lightweight Lead 30% Lead & 70%
Antimony
8.8 lbs
Standard Lead 100% lead 11.3 lbs
* Based on .5mm Pb Large Front Protection Apron

22. Steps to Buying an Apron
• 3rd Determine the Program
– Grab n Go
• In Stock –Ships Same Day
• Color coded by size S-XL
• 7 Styles 4 Weights
– Personalized/ Perfect Fit
• Sizes S –XXL or Perfect Fit tailored to your measurements
• 300+ Colors and Prints
• 9 Styles 4 Weights
• Ships in 15 Days

23. Steps to Buying an Apron
• 4th Choosing Options
– When buying a Personalized/ Perfect Fit Apron/Thyroid
Shield, you have options
• 300+ Colors and Prints/ aka Fun and Fashion
• A Standard Size or a Perfect Fit tailored to your measurement
• Attached or Unattached Thyroid Shield
• Monogramming
• Sleeves
• Embroidery

24. Fitting Aprons – AliMed Perfect Fit

25. Measuring Tips : Lengths of Aprons
• Frontal Protection Aprons:
• Starts at the sternal notch and is measured from this
point down to 1” above the knee.
• Full wrap around aprons:
– Coat Aprons
– Vest/Kilt aprons`
• Always measure down the front of the person, never
measure down the back.

26. Measuring Tips : Other Tips
• Always measure the widest part of the
person, includes the chest, the hips and the waist.
• When measuring the chest. Have the customer
raise their arms up.
• If the customer has an existing apron, it is always
advisable to have them bring the apron and put it
on.

27. Additional Radiation Products
• Radiation Gloves-AliMed, RadiaXon and ProGuard
• Eyewear Barrier Technologies and ProTech
• Racks: Wall Mounted and Mobile

28. Additional Radiation Products
• Patient Safety
• Apron Accessories: Belts, Maternity Panels, Apron
transport

29. Additional Radiation Products
• Full Body Barriers: Leaded Acrylic and Leaded Glass
• Adjustable Radiation Barriers for Interventional
Suites
• Drapes

30. Contact Us
• Web site
www.alimed.com
• Customer Care
888-625-4633
• Fax
800-437-2966