Metal detectors are widely used for scanning individuals at buildings, airports, hospitals and shopping areas among others. They are preferred due to their ability to detect metallic items hidden or carried on a person’s body. In addition, scanning an individual with a metal detector takes a little less than a minute. This causes no inconvenience and does not interfere with operations at the site where the devices are in use. They are also light to be carried around or held when not in use.
How Metal Detectors Work
A metal detector has in-built electrical circuitry that creates radio waves once the device is turned on. A receiver picks up the waves and translates them into an audio format. To the person using the metal detector, radio waves are transmitted as beeping noise. Whenever the wire coils in the device’s circuitry come near metal objects, the effect creates a magnetic field. This alters the wavelength of radio waves being picked up by the transmitter resulting in a beeping sound. The beeping noise is what signals to security guards or anyone using the detector that there is a metal object on an individual’s body.
Getting Your Metal Detector Ready
Before using a metal detector, ensure that it has got full battery power. At the gadget’s handle, on its rear end, you will find a slot for inserting batteries. Locate the ON/OFF button and turn your gadget on. An LED
indicator light will flash on, a sign that the metal detector is in good working condition. Alternatively, wave the detector over a metal object near you and wait for a beeping sound. With that, your metal detector is now ready for use.
How to Scan an Individual
When scanning an individual, make sure the subject is facing you. Request the person to extend their arms and spread legs slightly. Scan using an even speed, not too fast or too slow. The scanner should be held with its flat surface facing your subject. Ensure that the distance between the individual’s body and your scanner is approximately one inch. Begin your scanning movements at the subject’s upper left shoulder.
Scan along the length of the person’s outstretched left arm towards the fingers before scanning the lower part of the arm and moving in the opposite direction towards the armpit. Run your scanner down the body towards the feet and stop at the ankle. Move to the inner part of the left leg. Start at the ankle and move the scanner upwards till slightly above the knee. Move to the right leg and begin scanning the inner side from above the knee heading to the ankle. Repeat the procedure, this time, by moving the scanner to the outer ankle. Move from the ankle going upwards along the other side of the body until you reach the underarm of the right arm.
Move the scanner along the lower side of the arm as you go towards the fingers. Go over the top scanning along the top side heading towards the shoulders. From here, scan the torso beginning at the shoulder and going downwards up to the waist level or slightly lower. Shift your focus to the subject’s back and scan from the shoulders to the lower back or the other way round. Remember to move the scanner along the person’s waist.
Additional Tips
Hand-held scanners have an additional feature that allows you to change the gadget’s sensitivity to metals. You can opt not to use the button or press it to reduce sensitivity. Avoid dropping the scanner as this might
damage its circuit board. Also, clean the device by wiping it with a damp cloth. Keep the scanner in a dry place away from moisture.
