What safety precautions should be taken during a fluoroscopy exam?

Minimizing exposure time and maintaining distance during a fluoroscopy exam is crucial for ensuring safety for both the patient and the medical staff. Fluoroscopy involves the use of ionizing radiation, which can pose potential risks if exposure levels are high or prolonged.

By minimizing the exposure time, the amount of radiation the patient and the healthcare professional are subjected to is significantly reduced. This is important because even small doses of radiation can accumulate risk over time, so limiting the duration of exposure is essential in safeguarding their health.

Additionally, maintaining distance from the radiation source is an effective safety measure. The intensity of radiation decreases significantly with distance due to the inverse square law, meaning that as one moves away from the source, the exposure received decreases exponentially. This is a fundamental principle in radiation safety and emphasizes the importance of keeping a safe distance when performing procedures that involve ionizing radiation.

The other options suggest increasing exposure time or positioning oneself closer to the source, which goes against established safety protocols in radiology. Using minimal protective gear contradicts standard practices that require proper shielding to safeguard against unnecessary radiation exposure.