Question

1. What should be done in the following situations:
i. A room containing a 57Co sheet source is posted with a sign reading “Caution-Radioactive Materials”. The exposure rate measured next to the source is 5.2 mR/hr.
ii. A technologist discovers that a patient in the room next to a radioiodine therapy will receive 2.5 mrem/hr. when lying in his bed which is against the shared wall.
iii. A spill of 99mTc increases the exposure rate in a room from 1.7 mR/hr to 3.15 mR/hr. The room is posted with a sign reading “Caution-Radioactive Materials”.

Answer 1

1. The rooms, nearby to the vicinity of this room should be evacuated. The exposure rate that is measured is quite high as compared to the allowed limit. Hence, if a person is exposed to such an amount of radiation, it can cause severe and sometimes fatal diseases. The workers who require to enter the room should be wearing protective equipment before entering the room.

2. The patient should be kept devoid of any kind of radiation. The patient should be shifted to another room, which is at a fair distance from the radioiodine room. The patient is already suffering from some disease. Futher exposure to radiation may turn out to be fatal.

3. Firstly, containment measures should be brought about. Protocols should be followed and immediate evacuation should be carried out in order to ensure no one, especially any patient is exposed to the radiation. The experts, who are required to fix the spill, should be well equipped with full protective gear. The Danger sign should be made more prominent and that area should be sealed in order to restrict any kind of human( civilian ) movement, near or inside it. The spill should be fixed, as soon as possible to prevent the radiation from increasing and ultimately going outside into the atmosphere.