Thermoregulation is one of the most important abilities of the human body. The average temperature of most people ranges from 36.5 to 37.2.
Therefore, if there are slight deviations in any direction, but a person feels good, then this is his natural temperature.
Each doctor will be able to correctly determine the disease, knowing the exact temperature of the patient.
However, in order to recognize it correctly, you must adhere to specific rules. Know how many minutes you need to measure with a mercury thermometer or electronic thermometer.
It’s worth figuring out how to measure temperature correctly, how many minutes should you hold the thermometer?
How long it takes to measure the temperature depends on the measurement method and the type of thermometer.
There are two types of body temperature meters that differ in operating principles - mercury and electronic thermometers. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Known to everyone since childhood, mercury thermometer has not lost its significance even on at the moment. Its advantages are as follows:
- Budget cost.
- Measurement accuracy.
- Easy to use.
- The ability to measure temperature in any way.
- The probability of error is reduced to zero.
However, such a thermometer also has its drawbacks:
- Too fragile.
- If damaged, harm to the body is possible.
- Measure the temperature for at least 8 minutes.
Electronic thermometers have conquered their niche and become on the same level as a conventional mercury thermometer. The advantages of this measurement method include:
- Short measuring time.
- Multifunctionality. It is permissible to measure temperature by oral, rectal and axillary methods.
- Safety in operation.
However, in some cases, you may receive incorrect data due to a failure internal program thermometer.
Many people have measured their temperature a huge number of times using a mercury thermometer, but have never thought about whether they are measuring correctly?
And to the question of how long to hold the thermometer, each patient answers differently.
It is worth noting that there is special rules procedures to be followed when measuring indicators. Step by step instructions measurements:
- The temperature in the room where the measurement is carried out should be in the range of 18-25 degrees. If the room is cooler, then before sending the thermometer into the armpit, you need to warm the thermometer with your palms (several minutes).
- Before you begin the measurement itself, make sure your armpit is dry. If wet, wipe with a dry cloth. Doing so will significantly reduce the likelihood of the meter cooling due to sweat evaporation. Before use, do not forget to shake the thermometer to 35.5.
- When installing the thermometer, make sure that the tip with mercury touches the body on all sides. Once installed, press your shoulder and elbow toward your body so that the armpit is covered. It is worth noting that the junction density must be maintained throughout the entire measurement period.
- You should not measure your body temperature immediately after arriving from fresh air, physical activity or hot bath. With severe stress or nervous disorder, as a rule, the temperature will also be elevated. An incorrect result can also be obtained after a hot and satisfying lunch. In all such situations, you need to wait 30 minutes and then begin the procedure. These 30 minutes should be spent in a calm and relaxed state.
- At the moment of measuring body temperature, you cannot move, you just need to sit, do not talk, do not eat, and so on.
- For accurate readings, the measurement time is from 8 to 10 minutes.
When a patient is sick and needs to determine their body temperature, this must be done several times a day. At the same time better thermometer put at the same time. For example, in the morning around 11 o'clock, and in the evening around 8 pm.
For diseases that are accompanied by taking medication, measurements take place before taking the medication, and then after taking it, after 40-50 minutes.
It is worth noting that if several people use the thermometer, do not forget to wipe it with antiseptic solutions, then wipe it dry with a towel and store it in a case.
A mercury thermometer can also measure the temperature in the mouth. The main thing here is to be careful; one wrong move with your teeth and you could end up with a lot of fragments soaked in mercury in your mouth. Before you start taking oral temperature, you need to know:
- Before putting the thermometer in your mouth, you need to wipe its tip warm water, and then with an antiseptic (Miramistin, Chlorhexidine).
- Don't forget to shake the mercury thermometer to 35 degrees.
- Afterwards, the meter is placed under the tongue (to the right or left of the frenulum), the mouth is closed tightly, and the device is lightly held with the teeth. You shouldn't squeeze it too hard.
- Leave it in your mouth for five minutes, then you can see the result.
After using the device, rinse it again with warm water and antiseptic. Also, it is worth knowing that before taking measurements, you need to refrain from smoking and hot drinks, which can affect the thermometer readings. As a result, the measurement accuracy will be impaired.
Often there is a need to measure rectal temperature; doctors advise doing this procedure with a regular mercury thermometer, which will give more accurate results.
However, in order to see the most accurate picture, you need to know how to measure the temperature correctly and how long you need to hold the thermometer. Step by step measurement steps:
- The thermometer is inserted into the rectum 2-2.5 centimeters.
- The measurement time should last 6-8 minutes. During this time you need to lie still, which ensures the accuracy of the measurement.
- After the time has passed, carefully remove it.
It is worth remembering that 37.3-37.7 is considered normal for temperature in the rectum.
An electronic thermometer works through a sensor located at its tip. Before you start measuring indicators, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of use:
- The armpit should not be wet.
- Place the thermometer as tightly as possible into your armpit and press it against your body.
- Afterwards, lower your hand, thereby giving the thermometer a perpendicular position to the body.
- Press tightly with your hand or lie on your side. The point is to get a more accurate measurement result, there should be a slight pressure on the sensor.
And how long should you keep such a thermometer, patients ask? The instructions say that you need to hold it until the signal is given by the meter. In reality, everything is not like that.
If it is placed incorrectly, the thermometer may not show the temperature of a person’s body, but the temperature of the air in the armpit or even in the room, therefore, before you start measuring, you need to keep the thermometer in the armpit off for up to 10 minutes. And only then turn it on.
There is also this option: after the thermometer gives a signal, you can hold it for a few more minutes. In this option, the indicators will correspond to reality to the maximum.
Many people are interested in how long to keep the thermometer in your mouth to get an accurate result? To obtain accurate data, you won’t need much time; just put the thermometer in your mouth for 30-60 seconds.
In conclusion, it is worth saying that in order to get the most accurate picture of measurements, you must follow all the rules and recommendations for measurement, and also, do not forget how long you need to hold the mercury or electronic thermometer. The video in this article will serve as a visual aid for measuring temperature.
What is a thermometer? Familiar to many medical device found in almost every apartment. There is no need to explain why it is not difficult to find in a family with any income (and often in several copies), since it is not possible to measure the temperature without a thermometer.
You can touch the forehead of a sick person with your lips or measure a person’s pulse, but these actions will only help you understand that the temperature is too high, but you can’t hope for accurate results. Any working thermometer is an important and necessary item. This fact does not cause controversy. Disputes about how long you should hold the thermometer are ongoing. Let's try to find out optimal time required to determine body temperature.
- Types of thermometers
- Which thermometer should you choose?
Types of thermometers
- Mercury is an inexpensive and most accurate device. Its disadvantage is its fragility and long measurement time, but there are no competitors in terms of accuracy of readings. How long to hold a mercury thermometer depends on the method of measuring temperature:
- in the rectum or mouth – 5 minutes;
- in the armpit – 10 minutes.
Historical information. As a prototype liquid thermometer became the thermoscope, invented by Galileo in 1603. After 23 years, Santorio improved this device and for the first time measured the temperature of the human body. The famous Fahrenheit filled the device with mercury in 1714. At first he suggested using physical properties alcohol But I noticed that under the influence of heat, mercury expands more evenly.
- Electronic - more expensive and less accurate than a mercury device, but it produces results much faster. Each such gadget emits a sound signal when the temperature is measured; the whole process takes from 2 to 5 minutes.
This is interesting. A tattoo thermometer is a type of electronic thermometer for permanent wear on the skin. Personal device developed by a group of scientists from America, China and Singapore. Externally, it is a thin film with golden sensors, reminiscent of a barcode tattoo. It is attached to the skin with inside wrists using special glue. Measures body temperature throughout the day. True, it is not particularly accurate yet.
- Infrared (non-contact) - it is enough to bring it to a person’s forehead or insert it into the ear, the exact temperature data will be known within 5 seconds. The disadvantage of this type of device is its high cost. Plus - absolute safety and high measurement speed.
New developments. Today, in pharmacies you can often find thermometers in the form of a pacifier. Unfortunately for manufacturers and parents, not all babies like these options. Some spit them out, others begin to chew them... Korean designers tried to correct the situation. They suggested measuring temperature using... candy. Very real and completely edible. The thermometer is a stick with a replaceable sweet at the measuring end. While the baby is eating, his temperature is measured. If the idea is implemented and goes into mass production, the replacement sweets will be sold in pharmacies.
- Disposable (travel) - is a strip that should be applied to the forehead or placed under the tongue. The colored divisions will help determine body temperature. You need to hold this device for a minute. Such a device will be convenient during travel, but you cannot count on accurate results with it.
How long to keep the thermometer under your arm?
Mercury and electronic devices are most in demand due to their affordable cost and ease of use. They are usually used to determine body temperature in the armpit, since this method brings the least inconvenience, especially when you need to understand whether a child has a fever or not.
The answer to the question of how long to keep a thermometer under your arm is as follows:
- from 2 to 5 minutes when using an electronic device;
- from 8 to 10 minutes when using a mercury device.
Which thermometer should you choose?
You need to choose a medical gadget based on who needs to measure their temperature and under what conditions.
For babies and young children suitable age infrared thermometer because it determines the exact temperature in a few seconds. It is very convenient that the child does not need to be undressed and it is enough to free the forehead.
For adults, it is better to use a mercury device, as it shows the most accurate result. It will take some time for adequate information about body temperature to be displayed.
Disposable strips are perfect for trips and business trips, since you don’t have to worry about them breaking or breaking.
If the development of the disease is suspected, a thermometer is used for initial diagnosis.
The device measures body temperature, and from its indicators it is easy to understand whether a person is sick or not. But many people are not sure how long to measure the temperature of a child and an adult with a mercury thermometer. Some people hold it for three minutes out of habit, while others hold it for ten. What's the right way? “Popular about health” will help you figure this out and tell you about three ways to measure temperature.
Methods for monitoring temperature values
There are three ways to measure temperature, let's consider them:
1. Axillary, when the thermometer is placed under the armpit.
2. Oral – under the tongue.
3. Rectal - in the rectum.
In all these cases, the use of a mercury thermometer is allowed, but it is not always justified. For example, to determine the temperature of a small child, you should not use the oral method if the parents only have a mercury thermometer at their disposal. There is a high probability that the baby will break the glass and mercury will enter the oral cavity. For the oral method, in this case, it is better to use electronic thermometers.
Oral method - rules for measuring temperature
When using this method, you need to know how to properly position the thermometer in your mouth. To begin with, the device is disinfected with alcohol, after which the tip containing mercury is inserted under the tongue and the lips are closed. Breathing is done through the nose. You need to be careful not to damage the thermometer bulb with your teeth.
Rectal method
The rectal method involves inserting a thermometer into the rectum. Before starting the procedure, the tip of the device should also be disinfected, then lubricate it with cream or Vaseline. The patient is placed on his side, legs bent at the knees. The tip is carefully inserted into the rectum 4 cm for an adult, 2 cm for a child.
Axillary method
This method involves holding the thermometer near the lymph nodes - in the armpit or under the knee. It is used most often and is considered less secure. To use it, you need to make sure that the skin under your armpit is dry, press the tip of the device firmly and hold it.
You can measure a child's temperature with a mercury thermometer only in the presence of an adult and under his supervision. It is difficult to hold a small child in place for several minutes, so you should wait until the baby falls asleep or take the baby in your arms and press your hand tightly to the body, fixing the thermometer. Before the procedure, it is advisable to warm the thermometer in your hands for a few seconds so as not to frighten the baby by touching the cold tip to the body.
How long to measure the temperature of an adult and a child with a mercury thermometer?
How much time a child or adult will need to determine the temperature depends on the chosen method of measuring it:
Oral – 4-5 minutes.
Rectal – 4-5 minutes.
Axillary – 7 minutes.
An adult and a child will need the same amount of time. The procedure does not depend on the age of the patient. It is only important to understand that the temperature values in different parts bodies are different. This is exactly what will be discussed further.
What are the normal temperature readings in the mouth, rectum and armpit??
Everyone knows that t is considered normal - 36.6 degrees when measured in the armpit. But this indicator or norm is conditional, since for many people it can fluctuate down or up. If you choose other measurement methods, you will get completely different values. For example:
When measuring t in the mouth, the norm is 37.3-37.5 degrees.
The norm using the rectal method of measurement is 37.5-37.7 degrees.
The thing is that the mucous membranes are always much warmer than the skin, because the vessels are located closer there. For the same reason, the rectal and oral methods are considered more accurate than the axillary one.
The accuracy of the readings depends on many factors. For example, it is important to measure t with a thermometer only at rest. Children are very active, when they run and jump, the blood heats up, which is why the readings may be incorrect. Before carrying out the procedure, it is advisable to follow the following rules:
1. Do not take a warm bath.
2. Do not use hot food or drinks.
3. Don't run.
If you doubt the performance of the device, wait a few minutes, then repeat the entire procedure. It is worth noting that older mercury thermometers that have been used for many years heat up more slowly, so to be sure, wait a couple of extra minutes or use another device. As you guessed, this is why many people know about the time it takes to measure the temperature under the armpit for 10 minutes.
Advantages and disadvantages of a mercury thermometer
A mercury thermometer is considered more reliable and accurate, capable of serving for many years; its readings do not depend on the state of charge of the battery inside. These are the main advantages. There are also disadvantages:
The device is fragile and must be handled with care.
The flask contains mercury, a very toxic substance.
The duration of the procedure is longer compared to the electronic analogue.
Temperature data is very important for diagnosing diseases and determining the well-being of adults and children. To ensure that the data is as accurate as possible, follow the rules described above.
Measurement methods
Today, the most popular method remains measuring the temperature in the armpit. However, this is far from the only way. Measurements can also be taken in the following areas:
- in the rectum;
- behind the ear (using an infrared thermometer);
- in the oral cavity;
- under the knee.
How long does it take to measure? This depends on two factors: the above-mentioned measurement methods and the type of thermometer.
Mercury thermometer
A mercury thermometer is an inexpensive and at the same time accurate device. Among the disadvantages are fragility and a significant amount of time required for measurements, but in terms of accuracy of readings it is unrivaled.
How many minutes should you hold the mercury thermometer?
- rectally or in the oral cavity – 5 minutes;
- under the arm – 10 minutes;
- under the knee – 10 minutes.
Such a device costs much more, and it is not as accurate as a mercury thermometer, but the temperature measurement procedure takes much less time.
You don’t even need to time the time required for the measurement, because at the end of the process the device will emit a sound signal notifying you that the measurement is completed. This usually occurs within 1–3 minutes, regardless of the measurement method.
Modern manufacturers offer wide choice electronic pacifier thermometers for babies. With such a gadget, the procedure will not cause any concern to the baby, because he will perceive the device as an ordinary pacifier.
Infrared thermometer
It is a non-contact device that just needs to be brought to the area behind the ear or to the forehead, and it will give accurate readings. The cost of such a gadget is quite high, but its ease of use is difficult to dispute.
First of all, comfort is associated with the duration of the procedure: measuring the temperature with an infrared thermometer will take no more than 5 seconds, and it is absolutely safe.
Disposable thermometer
A travel thermometer is a strip that is held on the forehead or placed under the tongue. Body temperature is determined after a minute using the colored divisions on the strip.
You should not expect accurate results from such a device, but it is ideal for determining indicators on the road.
To obtain reliable indicators, it is not enough to know how long you need to hold the thermometer; you also need to carry out the measurement procedure correctly. So, if you measure body temperature with mercury or electronic thermometer, then adhere to the following rules:
- When measuring temperature, make sure that the skin is not wet. It is known that a sweaty person will have elevated readings.
- When measuring under the arm, you need to press your hand to your body and hold the inserted thermometer tightly. Then the question will not arise: “Why is the temperature on the thermometer minimal, since I have been holding it for a long time?”
- If the measurement is taken under the knee, then you need to hold the device with your leg bent for 10 minutes. In this case, you need to lie down.
- When measuring the temperature of a small child, you need to first warm the thermometer in your hands so as not to frighten the baby by touching a cold object. It is most convenient to take measurements under the arm while the baby is sleeping.
- Children can use the thermometer rectally. An electronic device is better suited for this. Firstly, it is not so traumatic, and secondly, the procedure time with it is shorter. However, it is worth considering that the temperature in the rectum is slightly higher than, for example, under the armpit.
- It must be remembered that older mercury thermometers respond more slowly to changes in readings, so they require more time to measure.
- Shake the mercury thermometer with sharp short movements, holding it between your index finger and thumb. The column should drop to approximately 35.5 degrees. It is better to do this over a soft surface to avoid damaging the thermometer if it falls.
- After the procedure, rinse the device with cool water.
- To take repeated measurements, use the same thermometer.
Now you know how to measure temperature correctly, how long to hold the device under your arm, under your knee, etc. Every adult who cares about their own health and the health of their children needs this knowledge.
The effectiveness and correctness of therapy depends on how responsibly you approach the issue of temperature measurement. We hope that our advice will help you get the correct readings and begin the required treatment immediately.
Despite the fact that now in pharmacies huge selection all kinds of thermometers, most people still prefer a mercury thermometer. This is due to the fact that other instruments for measuring temperature often show unreliable results. Some young mothers try to buy only electronic thermometers, as they are safe in case of damage. But there are situations when you still have to return to their dangerous replacement. After all, the temperature in children rises very rapidly, and not only the treatment, but also the life of the child depends on the correctness of the results obtained! How long should you keep a mercury thermometer under your child’s arm?? This is what I want to talk about today. So,…
How long to keep a mercury thermometer under a child’s arm?
Do I need to hold the mercury thermometer for a long time or is a couple of minutes enough? This question is often asked by young mothers. It’s not always possible to come to an agreement with kids; they spin around all the time, try to run away and don’t want to hold the thermometer tightly. Sometimes you don’t want to wake up the baby, and the worried mother tries to put a thermometer in the popliteal cavity or in the elbow crease. Is this correct?
Based on my life experience, I can say that it takes at least five minutes to measure a child’s temperature in the armpit with a mercury thermometer. If the baby is on fire, then by this time the device will already show an accurate result. Well, when the baby’s temperature is not high enough, it is better to keep it under your arm for up to ten minutes. Then you won’t have to doubt the testimony.
How to use a mercury thermometer correctly
A glass mercury thermometer is the most common instrument for measuring temperature. Its main advantages:
- absolute accuracy;
- inexpensive cost;
- ease of disinfection.
In order for a glass thermometer to serve for a long time, you must adhere to the following rules for its operation:
- Use only for its intended purpose, i.e. measure a person's body temperature under the arm, rectally or orally.
- Store in a case away from heating devices and out of the reach of children and animals.
- Do not trust a mercury thermometer to children. Use it only under strict adult supervision.
- After use, wipe the thermometer with a disinfectant solution. Any alcohol or chlorhexidine solution is suitable for this.
To reduce the time you hold a mercury thermometer under your child’s arm, try this trick. Press the child's hand tightly to the body for 5 minutes. During this time, read to him or watch a cartoon together. After this, set the thermometer for another 5 minutes.
During the first period of time, the temperature in the armpit will become the same as body temperature. And during the second period the thermometer will accurately measure it.
How to persuade your child to hold a mercury thermometer for up to 10 minutes
Unfortunately, children do not always want to sit quietly and take their temperature. They are especially capricious during illness. To persuade my kids, I used any trick: I promised them their favorite sweets, allowed them to take gadgets to play, we read books, watched cartoons or listened to audio fairy tales.
It is very important to accurately measure the temperature of a sick baby, so you should not reduce the recommended time for this.
How long have you been hold a mercury thermometer under your child's arm?
Instructions
To measure, you will need a thermometer; it can be electronic or mercury. If you have a mercury thermometer, then after checking your body temperature, be sure to shake it so that. If this is not done, then after a while the thermometer begins to overestimate the results. An electronic thermometer is considered the most accurate and in a safe way bodies.
The mercury thermometer needs to be held for 3 to 10 minutes. An electronic thermometer requires a little less, usually 1 to 3 minutes. More precisely, the recommended measurement time is indicated in the instructions for the device. The rest of the procedure for mercury and electronic thermometers no different.
To find out the temperature, take a thermometer and hold it under. The skin should not be sweaty, as this will cause the readings to be incorrect. The fact is that the sweat released has more high temperature, than the body itself, so the results on the thermometer will be overestimated.
Insert the thermometer under your arm, press your hand to your body and hold it tightly until you feel the temperature. Soon the thermometer will show correct readings. You can increase the measurement time for older mercury devices, which over time begin to respond more slowly to temperature changes.
While the child is sleeping, the temperature can be measured under the armpit. To do this, warm the thermometer in your hands so that the baby is not exposed to a cold touch, then carefully insert it under the armpit so as not to wake him up, otherwise he will not lie quietly and it will no longer be possible to measure the temperature.
Video on the topic
Please note
To a small child Measure your temperature strictly under supervision. If you leave your baby alone with a thermometer, he may break it while playing and cut himself. Mercury leaking from a thermometer poses a serious health hazard to the entire family.
Increasing the time of measuring body temperature will not change the thermometer readings.
Sources:
- How to measure body temperature correctly?
- how long to hold the thermometer
If, while working at the computer, your hand suddenly and sharply begins to hurt mouse, the pain intensifies and does not go away for a long time, then you can be “congratulated.” This is a manifestation of tunnel syndrome, another disease of civilization. Severe pain and the inability to continue sitting at the computer may conceal swelling of the tendons and damage to the nerve of the wrist. A chronic form of joint disease may even develop. How correctly you hold your computer mouse, your health depends.
Instructions
The furniture you sit on - a chair or armchair - should have armrests that provide the necessary support for your arms and wrists.
Mouse pads are not an anachronism at all, especially if there is a special anatomical bulge for the wrist. Using this mouse is very convenient and correct. Therefore, be sure to purchase the right one.
You need to move the mouse with just your fingers, and not with your whole hand, especially with the help of your shoulder. Hold mouse over the edges thumb and the little finger, place the index finger on the left button, the middle finger on the wheel, and the ring finger on the right button.
Video on the topic
Please note
If carpal tunnel syndrome is no longer just making itself felt, but is really bothering you, immediately go to the doctor and do not delay treatment.
Useful advice
Learn to use the mouse with both hands. Changing positions will help avoid pain. In addition, it is useful for developing coordination and posture. You can easily change the functions of the left and right mouse buttons in the settings on the control panel.
The increase is a natural reaction of the body to the internal inflammatory process. The first thing we do when we feel unwell is measure temperature. Of course, it is better to do this with the help of special devices - medical thermometers. If you don’t have it at hand, increase temperature bodies can be determined independently.
You will need
- - stopwatch.
Instructions
You can set the temperature increase by touch. However, it is better to touch not the forehead, but the patient’s neck at the very base of the skull, or hold the palm in the elbow or crook. At high temperatures, the limbs usually cool down, but these places, on the contrary, concentrate the heat. Certainly, this method is quite approximate and subjective, but it allows you to identify certain fluctuations in body temperature. It is very important that the person who touches the patient’s body is, otherwise he simply will not be able to feel the heat.
Indirect body temperatures - general fatigue, aches, chills. The patient experiences a feeling of dry mouth, thirst and a desire to wrap himself warmly. In this case, it is necessary to follow the correct drinking regime, drinking as much neutral liquid as possible (water, fruit drink, warm tea with lemon). The beginning of profuse sweating will be a signal that it is beginning to decrease.
High temperature affects the patient's pulse rate. Place your fingers on your wrist and feel for the radial artery. Record the time on a stopwatch and count the number of beats within one minute. If the pulse of a healthy person in a horizontal position is about 80 beats per minute, then with an increase in body temperature by 1 degree, the pulse increases by an average of 8–10 beats.
Another sign accompanying high temperature body, is rapid breathing. Time 1 minute and count the number of breaths during this period. The normal breathing rate of a healthy person is about 18–20 breaths while awake and 10–15 breaths while sleeping. Accordingly, the more often and more severely the patient, the higher his temperature.
All of the above methods can only give approximate results. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to measure as soon as possible temperature body using . This is the only way to obtain the most accurate information about the patient’s condition and take further steps to diagnose the disease and treat it.
Thermometer or thermometer
Obviously, we should start with what a thermometer actually is. In this case, we should remember its ancestor - a device created in 1597 by Galileo and called the thermoscope. The device was a glass tube with a hollow ball. The end of the tube was lowered into a vessel filled with water. The ball warmed up slightly. As it cooled, the water level in the tube rose. As soon as the ball was heated again, the water level began to drop.
Sixty years later, Florentine scientists improved the device. He received a scale, the air was pumped out of the tube, and this allowed him to obtain more correct measurement results. Over time, the ball migrated to the lower part of the tube, and the tube itself was sealed. Water was also replaced with colored alcohol, and the device, having acquired its familiar appearance, received a familiar name - a thermometer.
Today, a thermometer is called almost any device for measuring the temperature of any body, water, air, and so on. The thermometers themselves are gas, optical, infrared, liquid, electrical and mechanical.
Currently, electric thermometers, which are significantly safer and more convenient than their mercury counterparts, are becoming increasingly popular. The principle of their operation is based on a change in conductive resistance, which is accompanied by a change in temperature environment.
Infrared thermometers, which do not require direct contact with the human body at all, are also in increasing demand. They have already become widespread in a number of countries, especially in medical institutions.
Or is it still a thermometer?
If everything is relatively clear with thermometers, then the question - what is a thermometer - remains open. As it turned out, this word has two fundamentally different meanings. Actually, a thermometer is nothing more than a colloquial term from the word degree, and it still means the same thermometer. Only used in colloquial speech.
But there is a second meaning, highly specialized, but no less capacious.
A thermometer is a special lever designed for fine adjustment of the accuracy of the mechanism in a mechanical watch.
Turning this lever by a certain angle or degree changes the tension of the mainspring and thereby determines the force on the drive mechanism, which in turn sets a certain rotation speed.
This is how the accuracy of the clock mechanism is determined.
If a person suspects that he is sick, and this especially often happens in winter period, then the first means to confirm these guesses is a thermometer, which is used to measure. If it is high, then immediate treatment must be started to avoid complications. But does everyone know how long to hold a thermometer?
Let's start with the fact that there are also electronic ones. Both should be able to be used correctly in order for the readings to be accurate. It is also very important that the temperature of children and adults is measured differently.
The mercury device is considered the most effective. Electronic one is safer. Exact time How long to hold the thermometer depends on what type of thermometer it is. So, mercury thermometer measure the temperature from three to ten minutes. Three minutes is enough to find out the exact readings. Now you know how long you need to hold a mercury thermometer and how long you should hold an electronic one. There is no doubt that the second option will measure the temperature much faster. To reset the readings, after you have already measured the temperature with a mercury thermometer, you should be sure to shake the thermometer, otherwise the next time the results may be too high. Using an electronic device, you can more accurately determine your temperature.
How to hold it correctly, it should be held under the armpit. In this case, the skin should not be sweaty, otherwise the readings will be incorrect. The thing is that the temperature of the secreted sweat is higher than that of the body itself, so in the case of humidity under the armpit, the measurement result will be clearly overestimated.
While you are waiting for the reading, you should keep your arm tightly against your body. After a few minutes you will see the correct readings on the thermometer. If you have an old mercury device, you can slightly extend the measurement time, since being in use for a long time, such thermometers react more slowly to changes in body temperature.
Now that you know how long to hold the thermometer, you can use another method to insert the thermometer under the knee. The leg must be bent so that the thermometer is held firmly for the required time. This method is best performed while lying on your back or side.
Young children can take their temperature rectally by inserting a thermometer into their bottom. Here it will be more convenient and safer to use an electronic device, since it measures faster and cannot harm the child. Remember that the readings are always slightly higher than when measuring under the armpit or under the knee.
To the question of how long to hold a thermometer for a child, you can confidently answer: the same amount as for an adult. If the baby is sleeping, you can put the thermometer under the arm, after warming it in your hands. This way you won't wake him up with a cold touch. Be very careful not to disturb your child's sleep, otherwise it is unlikely that you will be able to take the temperature.
If you know how long you need to hold the thermometer, but as a result of the measurements it seems to you that the readings are not correct enough, then repeat this procedure again. Measure the temperature again to make sure the results are accurate.
Regardless of whether you use mercury to measure a child’s temperature, you need to do this very carefully. This is especially true for a mercury device, because mercury is very dangerous substance.
Those who like to skip school know how to artificially raise their temperature. To do this, they, for example, take the lead out of a simple pencil and simply eat it. Yes, the temperature does rise, but you risk getting poisoned. Therefore, it is better not to resort to such methods.
