People have been buying more thermometers in the last two to three years, especially digital ones. These are known for being able to give accurate readings and for being easy to use. When COVID or cold and flu season hits a city, thermometers can go in and out of stock, making many people pay more than they normally would for “good enough.” But keep this in mind: Most thermometers for fever will give you a correct temperature reading. If you or someone in your family gets sick, you can quickly decide what to do because high-quality digital thermometers are easy to read and take only a few seconds.
So, when people go shopping, they can choose from a wide range of thermometers. But a digital thermometer is both the most common and the most cost-effective one. Since there are so many options, it may be hard to choose one that is both reliable and accurate while staying within your budget. If you live in India and want to buy the best digital Thermometer, this post is for you. So let’s begin.
About Thermometer
Having a reliable medical thermometer at home could be very helpful if someone gets sick. If you can tell for sure if someone has a fever, you will have access to important information that will help you decide what to do next for their care. There are many different thermometers to choose from, both with and without contacts. You might choose which kinds to buy based on the ages of the people who live in your home and your preferences.
It’s important to know how your Thermometer works, just like it’s important to know how any other home appliance works. There are a lot of different kinds, and not all of them work the same way or give the same temperature readings. The last thing you want to do with a sick person is relying on your best guesses. This article will talk about medical thermometers in general, including how to use them and what their readings mean. No matter which model you choose, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully. If you don’t know how to use a thermometer correctly, it won’t give you accurate readings.
Never use a thermometer made for something else, like a meat thermometer or a lab thermometer, on a person. This is a very bad idea. The readings you get from these won’t be accurate. Please go through the below types of thermometer to know which one will work the best for you.
Digital Thermometer
The readings on digital thermometers come from heat sensors that measure the user’s core temperature. With one of these, you can take the temperature from the mouth, the rectum, or the armpit.
Oral Thermometer
You can take someone’s temperature in their mouth with a digital or a mercury thermometer. Oral thermometers are the most accurate for adults and kids over 3 years old.
Tympanic thermometers
Tympanic thermometers use infrared rays to read the ear canal’s temperature accurately. When measuring a child’s temperature, tympanic thermometers may be better than oral or rectal thermometers, especially for younger children, because they give quick and accurate readings.
Forehead(Temporal) Thermometer
Infrared sensors in thermometers worn on the forehead measure the temperature of the superficial temporal artery, a branch of the carotid artery. One kind is an infrared thermometer that doesn’t need to be touched. More and more people are using thermometers that can be worn on the forehead and don’t need to touch the skin in public places like airports, supermarkets, and stadiums.
App-based Thermometer
Most free apps for mobile devices that can read temperatures are made to record a place’s temperature, not a person’s temperature. Digital thermometers connected to the app through Bluetooth are needed for mobile phone apps that help take people’s temperatures.
Pacifier Thermometer
If your child uses a pacifier, you might get a good idea of their temperature by taking it while they are sucking on it.
Mercury Thermometer
Once upon a time, a mercury thermometer was the only way to find out someone’s temperature. They are harder to get and may even be illegal, depending on where you live. This is because they want to keep people safe.
Benefits of using a Thermometer
Since thermometers have been the subject of a lot of research and development, we now have access to the best thermometers that can be made. Find out how helpful it is to have the right Thermometer instead of just any thermometer.
1. You will get readings that you can trust.
What’s the point of having a thermometer if you can’t trust its readings? If you get accurate readings at the right time, you can dig deeper, figure out what’s causing the fever, and take the right steps faster. Temporal thermometers have become very popular in a short amount of time. This is because they are easy to use and give accurate readings. Not only are these thermometers used in hospitals and clinics, but they are also used in homes. Temporal artery thermometers, called contact forehead thermometers, use infrared scanning technology. These thermometers measure the body temperature by taking blood from the temporal artery and basing their readings on the forehead.
2. You get more readings in less time.
A good thermometer can quickly give accurate readings, usually in less than 4 seconds. If you, your child, or another family member is sick and you take their temperature, you will want to know as soon as possible if they have a fever, and you will want the reading to be as accurate as possible. A digital thermometer or a temporal artery thermometer can do the job in a few seconds.
3. You can write down and keep track of temperature readings.
Some of the most accurate thermometers in the market today are programmed to remember the readings from the last time they were used. People who get sick and need to keep track of their temperature changes may find them very helpful. A thermometer can store temperature readings for up to eight hours and keep track of how the temperature changes during the day.
4. You don’t have to do much work to figure out how a thermometer works.
If you have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how a thermometer works, it is not the “right” Thermometer for you or your family, especially if someone in the family is sick. A good thermometer is easy to use and comes with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. Also, a temporal thermometer makes taking a temperature very easy; all you have to do is run it across the forehead of the sick person, and you’ll have the reading in a few seconds. This kind of Thermometer is very useful. Digital thermometers can also be used orally by pressing a button to get readings much faster than traditional thermometers.
5. It’s easy to check your sick child’s temperature.
You did understand that sentence. Only a thermometer that makes taking a child’s temperature to look as easy as playing a game can be called “excellent.” We’re sure you already know how hard it can be to get your child to stay still while you take his temperature. When you have to take care of a sick child, it can be helpful to have a thermometer that doesn’t require you to change anything about your body and is easy to use. You press a button to get the readings, and you won’t have to fight with your child to keep them still.
How to choose the right Thermometer?
Points of measurement
A temperature reading can be taken by putting the Thermometer on the forehead, under the tongue, in the armpit, in the ear, or the axilla. Depending on the specifics of each case, one point of measurement might be chosen over another (see next question). Some thermometers work better in certain fields, like pediatrics, and can be bought for that reason.
The type of Thermometer
There are many different medical thermometers, but they can mostly be put into two groups: traditional analog glass thermometers and electronic thermometers. The two main electronic thermometers are probe and infrared thermometers (non-contact).
Tip of Thermometer
The tips of thermometers can be soft or hard, depending on what the user wants. Some are made to be used only once or are disposable so that infections don’t spread from one patient to the next. When the tips are used in paediatrics, they can be shaped like pacifiers to make the procedure more comfortable for children. Non-contact thermometers can’t be beaten for their Ease of use and comfort. Medical thermometers must meet certain health and safety standards to be considered compliant. Different standards must be met depending on the type of Thermometer and how it will be used. For example, electronic infrared thermometers that don’t need to be touched don’t need to be cleaned after use.
Ease of use
Some models have electronic versions that are easy to use and have a very quick response time. They also have a digital display that makes it easy and clear to see. An infrared thermometer has a reading speed that is very close to a regular thermometer.
Accuracy and dependability
The temperature measuring point and whether or not the device’s instructions are followed affect both accuracy and dependability. Analog temperature measurement is still the most accurate way to measure temperature.
Flexibility
Some thermometers can be used for different things because they have different tips. Depending on how the Thermometer is made, the range of temperatures it can measure could differ from one model to the next. Most of the time, the temperature is between 35 and 42 degrees Celsius. Depending on the model, thermometers measure the body’s temperature in either degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C).
How to use a Thermometer?
A thermometer is a great thing to have around the house if you want to figure out if you are sick. But for it to be useful, you must know how to use it correctly. Read on to learn how to use a thermometer correctly and learn how to take your temperature differently.
Method 1- Oral
People often use the oral method on a digital thermometer as their first choice to check their temperature. Putting the Thermometer under your tongue and then closing your mouth will give you the most accurate results. Also, make sure you do the following:
- Kindly wash your hands.
- Make sure the Thermometer has been washed.
- Don’t eat or drink anything for at least five minutes before the event.
- Keep the Thermometer against the tip of your tongue for forty seconds.
- Next, stay still until the Thermometer’s alarm goes off so you can find out what the temperature is right now. The best people for this procedure are adults and older children who can keep the Thermometer in their mouth for the required time.
Method 2- Rectal
The rectal method is usually used to take the temperature of babies and young children three years old or younger. To get an accurate temperature reading with this method, however, you will need to ensure that the child doesn’t move during the process. Here is how to use a thermometer the right way when taking your temperature using the rectal method:
- Put some grease on the end of it.
- Put your baby on their stomach.
- Keep a diaper under the baby to catch any poop that may come out afterwards.
- The only Thermometer part that should be put into the rectum is the pointer.
- Hold that position for 30 seconds or until you hear something. go off
- After that, you should use soap, water, and alcohol to clean the Thermometer well.
Method 3- Axillary
Using the armpit, sometimes called the “axillary,” is another common way to take a temperature with a digital thermometer. If you have a fever, this is a great alternative to taking your temperature by mouth. The right way to do this is:
- Take your child’s shirt off.
- Make sure their armpits aren’t wet.
- Please put your child’s arms down, and while you take their temperature, hold the Thermometer under their armpit.
- After waiting thirty seconds, you might not hear a beep for more than a minute.
- Then, wash the Thermometer with water and liquid soap.
- Also, it’s important to remember that the axillary method isn’t as accurate as the others, but it can be used quickly to check a person’s temperature. To do this, you can put your finger in their armpit. You can also use this method to add to the results of other methods.
Method 4- Ear
You can also use other thermometers, like a tympanic device, if you don’t want to use a digital one. If you need to take a baby or young child’s temperature quickly and accurately, this is another great option to think about. Just make sure you know how to use the device correctly.
- Be careful as you open the ear canal.
- Put a cap on the end of the Thermometer to keep it from getting broken by accident.
- Put the Thermometer in the ear, but stop when the canal is completely blocked.
- Hold your finger on the button until something happens.
- Take the Thermometer out of its case and throw it away.
Method 5- Forehead
Putting a thermometer on the forehead, also called an artery thermometer, is another way to take someone’s temperature. To use an arterial thermometer correctly:
- Put the cap on your head to protect it.
- Place the Thermometer carefully on the forehead of your patient.
- After knowing how hot or cold it is, remove the protective covering.
- Since forehead thermometers aren’t as accurate as digital ones and can be more expensive, they aren’t used as often.
Tips for maintaining a Thermometer
Instructions on how to clean and disinfect the non- digital oral and rectal thermometers
- Use soap and water to wash your face.
- Wash the Thermometer in warm water with a few drops of antibacterial liquid detergent. This will get rid of any bacteria that might be on the Thermometer.
- To get rid of any soap residue, it’s important to rinse the area well with warm water.
- Make sure the Thermometer is clean and sterile.
- A cotton ball or pad should be soaked in isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol. Check to make sure that the drink has at least 60% alcohol in it.
- Use the pad soaked in alcohol to clean the Thermometer through.
- Then, let it dry in the air. Give the Thermometer a quick rinse in some warm water to get rid of any alcohol that might still be on it. The Thermometer should be dried with a paper towel.
- Make sure the Thermometer is kept in the right way. Before putting the Thermometer away, ensure it is completely dry to prevent bacteria from growing. It’s best to regularly clean the inside of a storage case by wiping it down with a pad dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Let the case dry outside in the air.
Instructions on how to clean and disinfect the digital oral and rectal thermometers
- Clean before every use.
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol on a cotton ball or pad can clean the Thermometer from the handle to the tip. If you prefer, you can also clean the Thermometer with a wipe that kills germs.
- Rinse Well. Always give everything a good rinse with warm water to eliminate any leftover disinfectant. You can clean the Thermometer by holding it under warm water running from a faucet or using a wet paper towel. Extra care should be taken not to use up all the digital display space.
- Let it dry in the air before putting it away.
- Put the Thermometer on a clean paper towel and let it dry in the air.
Conclusion
One of the most important things to consider before you buy a thermometer is how accurate the readings will be. It’s important that the Thermometer is correct and that it’s easy to read the temperature. Also, since the pandemic is in full swing, we must take our temperatures more often and at different times. In these situations, using an infrared thermometer makes much more sense because it gives accurate readings quickly and without touching the measured object.
If you’re worried about your health and want to keep an eye on it at home, a reliable thermometer might help you relax. A good thermometer gives you accurate readings and can help you figure out if you or your child has a fever when you aren’t sure. We want you to be able to choose the best Thermometer for your needs in India after reading our buying advice.
FAQs
1. Can I trust a thermometer for its reading?
A digital thermometer is the most accurate and fastest way to take a temperature.
2. How long does it take a thermometer to get a correct reading?
Digital thermometers show the results in less than a minute most of the time. For a regular thermometer to give you a good reading, you need to hold it for at least three minutes.
3. Where should I store these thermometers? Do they want the item to be kept in the fridge?
Every time the Thermometer is used, it must be cleaned and returned to its original box. You don’t have to put them in the fridge.
4. Can a digital thermometer be cleaned?
Yes. Water should only be used to clean the tip of the digital Thermometer.
5. How do you clean an oral thermometer the right way?
After cleaning the Thermometer’s tip with cold water, wipe it down with alcohol-based wipes, rinse it again, and then use another wipe to dry it. Do this every time you put the Thermometer in your mouth to get a reading.
6. What should I know before taking temperature readings with a digital thermometer?
If you want accurate readings from a digital thermometer that runs on batteries, you should always make sure the batteries are fully charged. If the batteries are weak, the readings will be off.
