Korean Job Discussion Forums

MissT · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: Korea

I need to go to a hospital today in Jeollanamdo to get an x-ray on my foot and am really concerned that once again there will be no lead blanket. I've had 3 x-rays in Korea (Back, Chest for TB, and CT for my back again). Lead blankets were not provided and the X-Ray techs actually stayed in the room! Shocked

I'm a married woman who doesn't have children yet, but would like to in the future and am really concerned about potential birth defects.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Yesterday · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:41 pm Post subject:

I doubt it - I've also had many X-rays in korea - and "lead blankets" do not seem to exist..

Koreans seem to think they are immune to X-rays...

However, you probably could find "American Mad-Cow blankets" at your local E-mart...

cobright · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Location: Rochester Hills, MI

the lead blanket is a security blanket. Not quite but almost entirely psychological.

the x-rays come out of the gun and travel in a straight ling. through your foot or chest or head (whatever they are aiming at I would hope) then they hit the film then a metal plate. And then they stop.

Sure, there's a risk that right as they hit the button the gun will slide up and point at an ovary. but even so the risk of causing some sort of problem is really really small.

If x-rays were so dangerous could you buy a functioning x-ray gun on ebay? for under a grand? well you can.

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

Nowadays x-ray machines put out way less than they used to even 10 years ago.

There is little risk, and as ^ said, it is a straight line thing.

h

MissT · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: Korea

I got the x-rays done. I asked about the lead blankets and they had them, they just don't use them, or use them often, I think they just use them on pregnant women. The tech mentioned that I'd get more radiation from flying due to the lack of atmosphere to block radiation that is normally filtered for us on the ground. I'm not sure if that is true or not. The blankets definitely gave me peace of mind. I was reading online that 1% of cancers in the US were caused by diagnostic x-rays, and just over 3% of cancers in Japan because they used x-rays more frequently.
No broken bones, next I have to see the foot doctor in the city to find out what's going on with my foot.
Thanks for the replies Smile

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

The X-Ray techs aren't interested in getting over-exposed either. You'll notice they're wearing those film badges to monitor their own exposure to the rays.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 7:20 am Post subject:

Koreans are not well known for valuing safety.