subject: Temporal Thermometers Are Something To Consider [print this page] Temporal Thermometers Are Something To Consider
Sometimes, determining your child's health is as simple as getting one simple number: His temperature. That's done with the simplest of tools, the thermometer. That doesn't mean, though, that all thermometers are made the same. In fact, many people have found that the Exergen Temporal Thermometer makes the most accurate children's thermometers.
A person's temperature is usually determined by measuring his blood's temperature. That's the function of the thermometer. This can take place at a few different spots on the human body. The type of thermometer that's used largely determines how accurate this reading will be. Three places that are frequently used, depending on the circumstances, are the mouth, arm pit and in the rectum.
Before you use a thermometer, if it's new, make sure you read the instructions. Better thermometers, including the Exergen models, contain specific instructions. It is sometimes also important to calibrate it before you use it the first time (sometimes even before every use).
Although not true with all thermometers, many of them beep when they're done taking a reading. Some even allow you to store the reading for a certain span of time. Some, though, require that the user clears out the last measurement before they take a new one.
Keeping a thermometer clean and sterile is also important. The manufacturer instructions normally make this clear how to do so.
When you use a thermometer to check a child's temperature, the instructions that came with it usually tell when you should not use it. For instance, it's often suggested that you not take someone's temperature right after eating hot food or drink or eating or drinking something cold. Likewise, you should not use it right after a bath or immediately after exercising.
Let's consider how to do some specific reading types.
FOR AN ORAL READING, wait 15 or more minutes after a child has finished with a meal and then place the thermometer's tip beneath his tongue. Ask the child to hold it steadily with his tongue and lips, not with his teeth. The measurement will be done in three to four minutes. This method works because the thermometer checks the temperature of the blood on the underside of the child's tongue.
FOR AN AXILLARY READING, feel for the position of the child's axillary artery beneath the armpit. Place the thermometer over the artery, preferably after removing the child's top or shirt. The child should hold the thermometer in place by folding his arms across his chest. The reading should be done in three to four minutes.
FOR A RECTAL READING, first lubricate the thermometer's end. You can ask a pharmacist what kind of lubricant he recommends. Ask the child to lie down on a bed, changing table, your lap, or other comfortable surface. Hold the child's spine gently yet firmly with the palm of your hand and then gently insert the rectal thermometer about an inch into the child's anus. If there's any resistance, stop immediately; never force it in. Hold the instrument between your index finger and thumb, with the other hand cupped around his or her bottom. Once more, you should have an accurate reading in about three to four minutes.
The thermometer is a simple tool to use, but it's an important one for maintaining your children's health.
