ML19291A274
| ML19291A274 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/19/1979 |
| From: | Seyfrit K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | AIR FORCE SCHOOL OF AEROSPACE MEDICINE, BROOKS AFB |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905070609 | |
| Download: ML19291A274 (1) | |
Text
Shaec,
UNITED STATES o
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NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION 8'
REGION IV n
7
.I 611 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE,SUtTE 1000
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April 19, 1979 License No.
SNM-1338 Department of the Air Force USAF School of Aerospace Medicine Brooks AFB, Texas Gentlemen:
The enclosed IE Circular 79-06 is forwarded to you for infonnation.
If there are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions, please contact this office.
Sincerely, of set )";ybW KarlV.Seyfrit(
Director
Enclosure:
1.
IE Circular No. 79-06 2.
List of IE Circulars Issued in Last 12 months 790So7%g5
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555 IE Circular No. 79-06 April 19, 1979 FAILURE TO USE SYRINGE AND BOTTLE SHIELDS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE Description of Circumstances:
The Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) is taking this opportunity to reinforce the importance of the use of radiation shields for syringes and bottles for nuclear medicine.
In many cases they are not always being used by persons preparing and administering doses of radiophar-maceuticals.
This is a potentially unsafe practice as these shields reduce the radiation dose to the fingers and hands of persons handling the syringes and bottles and can result in unnecessary and undesirably high total dose to the fingers over a period of time.
Calculations and studies show that failure to use the protective shields can result in a radiation dose rate to fingers-of hospital staff personnel on the order of 100 mrads to one rad per minute, or a projected lifetime dose to the fingers in some cases of about 4,000 to 100,000 rads.
Notice to Medical Licensees:
Medical licensees are required to have and use these protective shields.
This requirement is imposed by either a specific condition of the NRC license or by procedures which are incorporated into the license. As part of their routine audit progran, NRC licensees authorized to use byproduct material pursuant to 10 CFR 35 should take the following actions:
Verify that protective shields are available and that nurses a.
and other medical personnel are using them, except in special circumstances, such as pediatric cases, when the use of syringe shields would compromise the patient's well-being.
b.
Inform the people involved in this type of work of the potentially high and serious radiation doses that can be received by the hands and fingers if the protective shields are not used.
The information contained in this Circular should be brought to the attention of all personnel who prepare and administer licensed radio-phamaceuticals to patie_nts.
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l DUPLICATE DOCUMENT No written response to this Circular ditional information regarding this
,,i Entire document previously of the appropriate NRC Regional Offi ;
entered into system under:
!i ANo 79050aouo No. of pages:
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