ACT
ON
THE
ICK

84%

of lead aprons tested for Staph A

84%

of lead aprons tested for Ringworm

78%

report wearing soiled lead

66%

of garments touch a patient 1-10x a shift

Think About Ew

The Biohazard You Wear Every Day

You wear lead every day. Sometimes for hours. Often after someone else has. You sweat in it. You wear it into sterile environments. And more than likely, it’s never been professionally cleaned.

Research from Wayne State University found that 84% of hospital lead aprons tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus and ringworm. 12% tested positive for MRSA. These pathogens aren’t just gross, they’re dangerous.

It’s putting you and your patients at risk.

lead aprons on hangers

Watch What You’re Really Wearing

The six short films below expose the contamination risks of lead aprons in real-world healthcare settings. Backed by research and frontline voices, they make one thing clear: It’s time to clean those leads.

Episode 1
Episode 1
A Day in the Life of a Lead

A Day in the Life of a Lead

Following a lead apron across a single day in the hospital, this film shows what happens when protective gear is shared between clinicians. Sweat, spills, and everyday exposure tell a bigger story about what builds up, and what’s often overlooked.

Episode 2
Hidden Dangers

Hidden Dangers

In this interview, Dr. Wava Truscott, PhD, explains the limitations of disinfectant wipes when it comes to lead apron hygiene. By unpacking biofilms and real-world cleaning practices, she makes the case for why wipes can’t be the only solution.

Episode 3
Lead vs Life

Lead vs Life

In Lead vs. Life, Justin McKay traces the path of a lead apron through the hospital, testing the surfaces it touches and then testing the apron itself. What the data reveals challenges assumptions about cleanliness and exposure.

Episode 4
Apron Roulette

Apron Roulette

Apron Roulette turns lead apron hygiene into a game of chance, showing how clinicians unknowingly expose themselves to contamination by using shared, uncleaned aprons. The reveal comes at the end of the day, when swab results show exactly what they were wearing.

Episode 5
Bill’s Story

Bill’s Story

Bill’s Story follows one patient’s experience after contracting MRSA during surgery, leading to multiple additional surgeries, years of therapy, and lifelong antibiotic treatment. Through his journey, Bill raises critical questions about lead apron cleanliness and its role in hospital-acquired infections.

Episode 6
The Clean Effect

The Clean Effect

The Clean Effect highlights the real impact of properly cleaned lead aprons, told directly through the voices of clinicians. Their experiences show how cleanliness changes confidence, safety, and day-to-day care.

“It’s dirty. It has sweat stains. It gets mistreated. “

Most of us have just accepted it—shared lead is part of the job. But once you really look at what’s on these garments, you start asking questions. How clean is it? Who wore it last? How safe is it for me, or for my patients?

The truth is, most lead garments are never truly deep cleaned. And that needs to change.

READY TO CLEAN THOSE LEADS?

Learn more about the Clean Those Leads campaign

Watch the Film Series

If you’ve ever wondered how clean your lead really is, these videos are for you. We brought together healthcare workers, contamination data, and a few surprises to uncover the truth.

Campaign Resources

Swab kits, action packs, expert support—it’s all here. Time to Clean Those Leads.