Abstract: A shield for protection from harmful radiation is provided, particularly for protecting a person lying in a bed from radiation originating in the ground. The shield comprises a plurality of thin walled overlapping platelets through which radiation can not pass which are positioned adjacent the bottom of the bed. Advantageously the platelets are connected with each other and with the mattress of the bed jointly by cord or pivot joint and are composed of lead and/or a barium containing compound such as barium sulfate or barium oxide. The shield can also be a fine powdered barium compound interspersed in the foam of the mattress.