The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
MRI Hazards - What happens when you turn on this big magnet?
Ever get hurt and have to go through a MRI exam? You hear all the clunking and things moving around with loud clicks forcing one to have to wear headphones to protect your hearing during the exam process. But are there any hazards for firefighters when confronted with an incident that involves one of these units? Here's a clue... they are basically really BIG MAGNETS!
Exhibit A / Chairs:
Exhibit B / Floor Buffers:
Exhibit D / Compressed Gas Oxygen Cylinder:
Exhibit E / Compressed Gas Acetylene Cylinder:
An excellent discussion on this that was posted on Firehouse should be read. Click here.
Remember to think out of the box!
TCSS,
Mike
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
-
I was recently doing some auditting and other stuff at one of the hospitals here and had achance to have a good talk to the technicians about it.
They were telling me that it is rarely (read very rarely) turned off- turning it off and on actually damages the magnets, so we should always treat it as live.
They were also telling me a number of years ago there was one hospital in Melbourne which had a patient with a pace maker fitted- it was ripped straight out of his chest!
They had MRI Fire Extinguishers in and around the area. They're basically what we call a "Vapourising Liquid" extinguisher (Do you guys have these?) which is safe for electrical fires and the extinguisher itself has no magnetic components. See link below more info.
http://tinyurl.com/cjpov5
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
-
hmmm... can't say that I knew these even existed... makes sense though. what are they constructed with? and are you out of harms way from the fires? hope so buddy. mike
-
Permalink Reply by Oldman on
-
IF I were injured, the ONLY way you would get me in one is to give me some super good drugs. I've had an open MRI and that was a pain enough to lay still that long, much less being inside the tunnel.
I never realized that it was an issue of one of these things burning up, so that you had to have a special extinguisher. Learn something new every day.
But I'm at a loss as to why one would have an Acetylene Cylinder inside the room. Is this some new treatment modality?
I know years ago when I was on a gomer truck, the crews almost had to strip to be able to pick up the patient, (which might also be an interesting topic). OK back to reality. Want to screw up a watch or destroy your credit cards, walk into the open door. I was told by the tech, that the machines were always on with very low level magnetism. The real danger occurred, (like the O2 or Acetylene Cylinder) was when the test was actually being performed. Otherwise it was relativity safe.
-
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
-
Our hospital has the same extinguishers for the MRI room. The problem is the metal zippers, clips, and snaps on our turnout gear. Fortunately, the MRI room is sprinklered, and there is a remote electrical disconnect in an adjacent room so we don't have to enter the room with the machine on or worry about a large fire.
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on
-
I wonder how you gonna MRI patient with a tatoo? They said the tatoo are made of some metal particles....
-
Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
-
Tattoo removal by MRI. That must hurt. TCSS
-
-
I was amazed seeing IV stands, trashcans, floor buffers, chairs and anything metal stuck to the MRI. Wouldn't want to be in the way with one of those babies flying through the air. Now that would hurt.
-
-
And would leave a scar too. TCSS
-
Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
-
I never thought abo responding to a mri emergency. I also had no clue there was a mri extinguisher. I learn something new everytime I get on ffn! Thanks for all the info guys!
-
Permalink Reply by Aussie_Wildfire on
-
Check out PET scan, It's bigger
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
