![]() ![]() ![]() being aware that environmental factors can alter the reading (including drafts, direct sunlight, and temperatures below 60☏ or higher than 104☏).reading the manufacturer’s instructions.They should then leave the thermometer in place for 3 minutes or until it beeps.Īccording to the FDA, there are a few steps to take prior to using a forehead thermometer: The person can use their lips to hold the thermometer in place. To measure temperature orally, a person should insert the probe end of the thermometer underneath the tongue and close the mouth. The person should remove the thermometer after 3 minutes or when the thermometer beeps to finish the reading.įor adults, or children who can hold a thermometer in their mouth, oral temperatures are the most accurate. The person should then spread the infant or child’s buttocks and insert the bulb of the thermometer 0.5–1 inch into the rectum. Then they should lay the infant or child on their back, with their legs in the air. To do this, a person should place petroleum jelly on the bulb of a rectal thermometer. They should also get advice from a poison control center so they can safely clean up the spillage.įor an infant or small child, the most accurate way to obtain an accurate temperature is with a rectal thermometer. If a person comes into contact with mercury from a thermometer, they should seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, some glass thermometers contain liquid mercury, which is toxic to humans. According to the National Capital Poison Center, glass thermometers can cause injury if the glass breaks. The general advice is to avoid using a glass thermometer. What is the most accurate way to take a person’s temperature? It will only take a person a few seconds to take a temperature reading with a forehead thermometer. In many other countries, thermometers will display the temperature in ☌. ![]() ![]() In the United States, thermometers will usually display the temperature in ☏. The thermometer measures this electrical reading and displays the result on the screen of the thermometer. The exact positioning will depend on the manufacturer’s instructions.Ī lens inside the thermometer focuses infrared radiation that the person emits onto a thermopile, which is a small electronic device that converts the infrared radiation into heat and then again into electricity. Although infrared radiation is not visible, a person may be able to feel it as heat.Ī person can take someone’s temperature with a forehead thermometer by holding the thermometer a few centimeters away from the center of their forehead, just above the eyebrows. They concluded that forehead thermometers are not ideal for use in a hospital setting and pediatric practice.įorehead thermometers use infrared sensors to pick up on infrared radiation that the body produces. The authors discovered that the difference between the two types of thermometers was particularly notable for forehead thermometers. The reading could also be inaccurate if a person has been wearing a head wrap or headband before taking it or if they have sweat or dirt on their forehead.Ī 2013 study comparing forehead and ear thermometers found that both devices returned lower readings than rectal thermometers. The FDA writes that a draft, direct sunlight, or a radiant heat source could affect the temperature reading and make it inaccurate. The environment in which a person uses a forehead thermometer can also affect its accuracy, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, according to a 2020 study, forehead thermometers are less accurate than other methods of reading temperature, such as oral, rectal, or tympanic (ear) temperature readings. For general use at home, forehead thermometers will give an idea of whether or not an individual has a fever. ![]()
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