With so many options available, choosing the right thermometer can seem a bit overwhelming. From the old fashioned glass and mercury to the sci-fi forehead scanner, we’re going to look at each of them for you. Glass and Mercury These were once the most popular thermometers. A simple glass tube with mercury inside. You would place it under the tongue and the mercury would rise. Once it stopped rising, you would take the reading. However, due to the risk of mercury exposure, it’s not recommended for use. In fact, it’s suggested that you get rid of any of these thermometers because of the dangers surrounding mercury. You should note that you should never just throw these away. Contact your doctor or local health department for how to dispose of them properly. Dummy Thermometer If you have a little one with a fever, you may consider this as an option. You can take the baby’s temperature without disturbing them. Sounds ideal to just stick a dummy in their mouth and let it do the work. However, it should be noted that these are not reliable on children less than 3 months because the baby must be still for a few minutes and it’s usually very hard to get a new born to be still for long enough. Plastic “fever” strip thermometer If you’re not looking for an exact temperature, these small plastic strips you place on the forehead will work in a pinch. However, they are not reliable for reading temperature on young children and infants. Electronic Ear Thermometer This thermometer reads the infrared heat that comes from inside the ear. You must make sure to hold the thermometer correctly to get an accurate reading, and even then if there is a build up of wax in the ear, it will not give an accurate reading. These are also not recommended for babies under 3 months. So if you intend to use these, keep your ears clean and keep away from babies. Forehead Thermometer While not as reliable as the digital thermometer, these work well for all ages. Forehead thermometers are placed on the temporal artery where it reads the infrared heat coming off the forehead. They’re simple and easy to use. Digital Thermometer This is the fastest and most accurate thermometer. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are readily available. There are 3 ways to use a digital thermometer: (1) oral, or in the mouth, (2) rectal, or in the bottom and (3) auxiliary, or under the arm. It is important to note that you should never use a thermometer for both rectal and oral scans. It would be best to label thermometers so they don’t get mixed up. You do not want to make the mistake of mixing these up. So there you have it. Several different types of thermometers for whatever your needs may be. No matter what thermometer you decide to get, make sure to read the instructions to get the most accurate reading possible.
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February 2019
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