If you own or manage a veterinarian clinic, podiatrist office, or any other small medical facility that requires a number of x-rays to be performed every day, you'll need to invest in good x-ray vests. These protect you and your staff from the radiation created by the x-rays and are typically required by law in every area. Because there is such a wide variety of vests available on the market today, consider some simple tips for the features you want to look for if you're in the market for new vests for your facility from outlets providing x-ray sales and service.

1. A drying surface

An x-ray vest should have an antimicrobial, antifungal surface that automatically keeps your staff dry. These materials are often used in athletic wear and they're necessary for an x-ray vest because without them, it's easy to start sweating under the weight and density of the vest. This too will make each staff member comfortable as they may share vests in your facility, and if one is carrying the sweat from another staff member, they may not appreciate having to don the vest themselves! Look for a surface that stays clean and dry when you shop for new vests for your facility.

2. Separate male and female vests

Some members of your staff may wear their vests throughout the day, if they run the x-ray machine often. This is why it's good to invest in separate male and female vests, as this will afford a better and more comfortable fit. The male vests may be wider at the chest while the female vest may be deeper, to accommodate their different builds.

Choosing separate male and female vests will not only keep your staff more comfortable but it may also keep them safer, as they may be able to better close the vest around their torso when it has a better fit. This is for their protection so it's a worthy investment for your facility.

3. Recycled material

Because of the lead and tin that are typically used in x-ray vests, it's good to look for recycled materials. This will help to preserve the environment as it keeps these materials out of landfills and instead, uses them for the vests. The nylon and other materials used for x-ray vests can also be used from recycled materials, and this too stops them from winding up in landfills. If you're concerned about how much pollution is caused by waste materials and want to help protect the environment as much as you can, choose vests made from recycled materials.