A system and method for controlling a body-scanning device with a wireless footswitch is disclosed. The method includes polling a status of a plurality of switches on a wireless footswitch using a microprocessor. A pulsed signal is sent from the microprocessor to a watchdog timer. The pulsed signal is pulsed at a predetermined rate when the microprocessor is operating within selected operating parameters. The microprocessor is reset when the pulsed signal is pulsed at a rate less than the predetermined rate. The status of the plurality of switches on the wireless footswitch is transmitted to a receiver connected to the scanning device to enable the scanning device to be controlled by actuating at least one of the plurality of switches on the wireless footswitch.
