price and convenience of ordering.

Here are some tips to consider when purchasing protective apparel for your staff.
1. Minimum standards for apron thickness is .25 mm lead    equivalent (National Council of Radiation Protection Manual   #36  pg. 15) but the industry standard is .50 mm lead    equivalent.  Get .50 mm lead equivalent and be safe.
2. Current technology uses the lightest weight leaded vinyl to   achieve the desired protection level. The degree of flexibility   of the vinyl product varies with the manufacturing process.   Get the light weight flexible kind.
3. Believe it or not, tin aprons  are available. Tin is a better    absorber of radiation in the diagnostic energy range than    lead! This fact has been known for years but it has been    difficult for manufacturers to create a durable yet flexible tin   apron that lasts. Tin aprons are 30% lighter than a    comparable lead vinyl apron. In the past decade, tin aprons   made of tin titanium nitrate have been used and they stand   up well to the daily grind.  Many of the human cardiac cath   labs in the metropolitan area have these super light weight    aprons. They are super light weight but they also are super   expensive! 
4. Coverings for aprons are made of vinyl or nylon and come in   various weaves and colors. You can even order patterns or   have monograms to spice up the old x-ray room.  Don't be    fooled, some of these covering products seem thin and shear   but are quite durable holding up to even the toughest toenail.   Those with texture may not be as strong as they seem.
5. Aprons come in numerous sizes. Buy the size that fits the    majority of your personnel. If the apron you want comes in    only one size - then it's probably a big brownie clone -  don't   buy it.  Sizes come in male and female designations. A     "female - medium" for example is 2" shorter cut than a "male   medium" apron size. This means lighter weight also. If you    are buying more than one apron, you might want to consider   two different sizes. Spend some time looking into this one. 
6. Apron styles also vary, and people have different preferences   here. Vari-weight aprons evenly distribute the weight of the   apron over the shoulders, back and front. They have good fit   and stay put when you bend over. Velcro straps, plastic    buckles and cloth ties are methods of fastening aprons. The   cloth ties are the least snug. Some people like the Velcro    straps for ease of use and best fit. Be sure that you get the    kind with "shoulder slots". These are easy to put on and take   off. Some Velcro aprons come as a quick surgical drop off    type designed to be removed from under a surgical gown.    These are great for that purpose but are not useful as routine   aprons. I have had good experience with Velcro fasteners for   aprons over the years, but some people don't likeVelcro    because it can wear thin with time and thus be difficult to    fasten. The plastic 2 inch buckle type fastener is also easy to   use and durable. They don't fit as well as the wrap around    Velcro straps but I have used these also and have had good   experience with them.  The cloth tie straps provide the least   snug fit.
7. Thyroid shields normally come in .5 mm lead equivalent    material but they can also be purchased at .375 mm lead    equivalent thickness. It's nice to have the thyroid shield fixed   to the apron but some people find that too cumbersome and   would rather have it not attached. Thyroid shields affixed to   the apron are conven

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