How to Take Temperaturewith Old Fashion Thermometer

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Drinking glass thermometers were once common, but now various types of digital thermometers are more than prevalent. If you have a choice, it's better to use a thermometer without glass. Drinking glass thermometers tin can break and crusade injuries, and some contain mercury, which is poisonous. Ones containing mercury, in item, are no longer recommended.^[1] However, if a drinking glass thermometer is your only option, just take precautions to make certain it's safe.

1
Pick a glass thermometer without mercury. If y'all take the option, a non-mercury glass thermometer is safer. It should say on the package whether it contains mercury or not, so read the package carefully if you nevertheless accept it.^[two]
- A non-mercury thermometer is safer considering information technology can't leak mercury. However, as long as you inspect the thermometer to ensure there are no cracks or leaks, a mercury thermometer should also be safe.
- Non-mercury thermometers typically contain colored alcohol as an alternative to mercury.
2
Cull between a rectal or oral thermometer. These thermometers have different tips to make it more than comfy for the person whose temperature you're taking. Look for a rounded tip on a rectal thermometer or a longer, narrow tip for an oral thermometer.^[three]
- They're oftentimes color-coded on the other end, ruddy for anal and green for oral.
- Y'all tin can as well read the packaging to find out what kind y'all have.
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3
Make clean the thermometer with lather and water. Employ absurd water and any kind of hand soap or dish soap and rub it up and downward on the thermometer to clean it. Rinse information technology thoroughly nether running water to become rid of whatsoever lather rest.^[4]
- Don't utilize hot h2o, every bit you could rupture the thermometer.
- You tin also cleanse the thermometer by wiping it down thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and then rinsing it off.
4
Shake the thermometer to lower the temperature. Glass thermometers don't always reset themselves afterwards you take a temperature. Grab it at the terminate away from the tip and swing the thermometer back and forth. Check to brand certain it goes down below at least 96.viii °F (36.0 °C); it needs to be under the average torso temperature.^[five]
- Be very careful not to hit the thermometer confronting annihilation when yous're shaking it, since this could shatter the drinking glass.
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1
Take a rectal temperature for children ages 3 or younger. Use a mercury-gratuitous thermometer unless you have absolutely no other choice. Lubricate the tip with a scrap of petroleum jelly. Place the child on their back with their legs upward. Gently button the tip into the rectum, going about 0.v to one inch (1.3 to 2.v cm) in. Never force it in if information technology feels blocked. Hold the thermometer in place the whole time you're taking the reading, as you don't want to go deeper into their body.^{[half dozen]}
- Hold the baby or child still so that the thermometer doesn't break.
- Children may bite down on a thermometer if it's in their oral fissure, which could break the thermometer. This is why yous shouldn't identify a glass thermometer in their mouth.^[7] Plus, a rectal temperature is the near accurate for children.^[eight]
- Some contempo enquiry shows that temporal artery readings (taken at the brow) are a prophylactic, comfy, and accurate alternative to taking a rectal temperature in newborns and young children. If you accept access to a temporal thermometer, use this instead.^[9] Unfortunately, you can't accept a temporal reading with a drinking glass thermometer.
2
Place the thermometer in the armpit for an easy approximate. To accept someone's temperature in their armpit (called an axillary reading), apply an oral or a rectal thermometer. Lift their arm and set up the thermometer so that the tip is directly in the center of the armpit. Have the person hold their arm tightly confronting their torso.^[10]
- If the thermometer indicates the person has a fever, bank check it again with a rectal or oral reading, depending on the age of the person. The armpit won't give you an accurate reading of their exact temperature.
- This method is useful for chop-chop and easily determining whether a infant or young child has a fever.
3
Utilize an oral thermometer for kids over 4 and adults. Put the tip of the thermometer under the person'south natural language, towards the dorsum of the mouth. Take them agree it in place with their lips airtight while the thermometer warms upwards to their body temperature.^[11]
- This method is authentic, but it can be difficult for some kids to concord it in identify properly. There's also a risk of younger kids biting down and breaking the thermometer.
- To get the most accurate reading, wait fifteen minutes before taking the person's temperature if they've been eating or drinking.
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1
Leave the thermometer in place for 2-4 minutes. The corporeality of fourth dimension depends on the location. If you lot're using a rectal thermometer, two-iii minutes is enough time. If you're taking a temperature in the mouth or under the armpit, leave the thermometer in identify for three-4 minutes.^[12]
- Endeavor not to milkshake the thermometer as y'all pull it out, every bit this could affect the reading.
2
Hold the thermometer horizontally to read the numbers. Bring it up to eye level with the end of the liquid right in front end of yous. Look for the long lines, which indicate i °F (or 1 °C) each and the smaller lines, which betoken 0.ii °F (or 0.1 °C) each. Read the nearest number to the end of the liquid, counting the small lines if you need to.^[thirteen]
- For example, if the end of the liquid goes past the larger 100 °F (38 °C) mark by 2 smaller lines, then the temperature is 100.4 °F (38.0 °C).
three
Determine if the person has a fever. Typically, you lot or your child has a fever if their temperature is at or to a higher place 100.four °F (38.0 °C) when taken in the rectum, 100 °F (38 °C) when taken in the rima oris, or 99 °F (37 °C) when taken under the armpit. These are the minimum temperatures for a fever.^[fourteen]
- Telephone call the doctor if your child is nether 3 months and running a fever based on a rectal reading.
- If your child is 3-six months old and is running a temperature of 102 °F (39 °C), talk to your doctor, particularly if your child is showing other symptoms like sluggishness or crankiness. If it goes above 102 °F (39 °C), contact your doctor no matter what.
- If your child has a temperature of 102 °F (39 °C) and is 6 to 24 months old, call your doctor if it lasts more than a day. Also, phone call if your kid is showing other signs of sickness, such as coughing or diarrhea.
- If you have an older kid or an developed, go to the doctor for a temperature of 103 °F (39 °C) or higher.
four
Clean the thermometer before putting information technology away. Wash it with cool water and soap, rubbing the length of the thermometer simply focusing peculiarly on the tip. Rinse it thoroughly with water when you're done.^[xv]
- If yous don't clean it, yous could introduce germs to the next person who uses it.
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If you want to get rid of an old mercury thermometer, call poison control or your local health department to notice out the all-time way to dispose of it.^[16]
While drinking glass thermometers piece of work fine if you have no other options, digital thermometers are faster and easier to utilise. For the quickest and easiest temperature reading, opt for a digital tympanic (in the ear) or temporal (forehead) thermometer if you tin.

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Ever check the thermometer for cracks or leaks earlier using it to have a temperature.
If a mercury thermometer breaks, call poison command for more information. If it'due south not mercury, information technology'due south non-toxic, and so you can clean it upwardly with paper towels.