Which method is effective in reducing the risk of radiation exposure to patients?

Prepare for the Kettering Safety Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Using a high kilovolt peak (kVp) combined with low milliampere-seconds (mAs) is an effective method in reducing the risk of radiation exposure to patients. This technique allows the x-ray beam to be more penetrating, which means that it can pass through the patient with less overall radiation. The high kVp results in a higher energy beam that requires less exposure time, therefore reducing the total radiation dose delivered to the patient.

In contrast, a low kVp would necessitate an increase in mAs to maintain image quality, leading to higher radiation exposure. The concept of increasing distance is relevant for reducing exposure, but without appropriate shielding, the effectiveness in clinical practice is not as significant as optimizing kVp and mAs. A higher dose rate would inherently lead to increased exposure, contrary to the goal of minimizing radiation risk.

Thus, the use of high kVp and low mAs is a sound practice in radiography to enhance image quality while keeping patient exposure to a minimum.

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