Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Prepare the thermometer
• Method 2 of 3: Put the thermometer in the right place
• Method 3 of 3: Remove and read the thermometer
• Tips
• Warnings

Glass thermometers used to be common, but now different types of digital thermometers are more common. If you can choose, it is better to use a thermometer without glass. Glass thermometers can break and injure the person, and some contain mercury, which is poisonous; in particular, mercury thermometers are no longer recommended. However, if a glass thermometer is your only option, take precautions to make sure it's safe.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Prepare the thermometer

1. Choose a glass thermometer without mercury. If you have the option, a glass thermometer without mercury is safer. The package should say whether it contains mercury or not, so read it carefully.
   • A thermometer without mercury is safer because it cannot leak mercury. As long as you inspect the thermometer to make sure there are no cracks or leaks, a mercury thermometer should also be safe.
2. Choose between a rectal or oral thermometer. These thermometers have several points to make it more comfortable for the person or child whose temperature you are taking. Look for a rounded tip for a rectal thermometer or a longer and narrow tip for an oral thermometer.
   • They are often color-coded on the other side, red for anal and green for oral.
   • Read on the packaging what type of thermometer you have.
3. Clean the thermometer with soap and water. Use cold water and hand soap or dish soap and rub it up and down the thermometer to clean it. Rinse thoroughly under running water to remove all soap residue.
   • Do not use hot water as it may rupture the thermometer.
   • You can also clean the thermometer by thoroughly wiping it with rubbing alcohol and then rinsing it.
4. Shake the thermometer to lower the temperature. Glass thermometers don't always reset themselves after you take a temperature. Grab the thermometer by the end on the other side of the tip and swing it back and forth. Check that it drops to at least 36 ° C; it must fall below the average body temperature.

Method 2 of 3: Put the thermometer in the right place

1. Take the temperature rectally if the person is under 5 years old. Coat the tip with a little Vaseline. Place the child on its back with the legs raised. Gently push the tip into the rectum and enter 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Never force it if it feels blocked. Hold it in place while recording because you don't want to go deeper into their body.
   • Keep the baby or child still so that the thermometer does not break.
   • Children can bite a thermometer if it is in their mouth, causing shards of glass and mercury in their mouth. That's why you shouldn't put a glass thermometer in their mouth. In addition, a rectal temperature is most accurate in children.
2. Place the thermometer under the armpit for an easier way to measure a child's temperature. For this type, use an oral or rectal thermometer. Raise the person's arm and position the thermometer so that the tip is directly in the center of the armpit. Have the person hold their arm firmly against their body.
   • If the temperature indicates the person has a fever, then you should check again with a rectal or oral measurement, depending on the person's age, as these are more accurate.
3. Use an oral thermometer in children from the age of 5 and adults. Place the tip of the thermometer under the person's tongue. Have the person hold the thermometer in place while the thermometer warms up to their body temperature.
   • This method is accurate, but it may be difficult for some children to keep the thermometer in place.

Method 3 of 3: Remove and read the thermometer

1. Leave the thermometer in place for the correct time. The amount of time depends on the place. If you are using a rectal thermometer, two or three minutes is sufficient. Leave the thermometer in place in your mouth or under the armpit for three or four minutes.
   • Do not try to shake the thermometer while pulling it out as this can affect the reading.
2. Hold the thermometer horizontally so you can read the numbers. Bring it up to eye level with the tip of the liquid directly in front of you. Look for the long lines, each indicating 1 ° C, and the smaller lines, each indicating 0.1 ° C. Read the number closest to the end of the liquid and count the small lines if necessary.
   • For example, if the tip of the liquid passes 2 smaller lines past the larger 38 ° C mark, the temperature is 38.2 ° C.
3. Determine if the person has a fever. Usually, you or your child will have a fever if the temperature in the rectum is 38 ° C, if the temperature in the mouth is 38 ° C, or if the temperature under the armpit is 37 ° C.
   • Contact your doctor if your child is under 3 months old and has a fever based on a rectal measurement.
   • If your child is 3 to 6 months old and has a fever of 39 ° C, contact your doctor, especially if your child has other symptoms such as lethargy or moodiness. If it is above 39 ° C, contact your doctor no matter what.
   • If your child is 6 to 24 months old and has a fever of 39 ° C, contact your doctor if the fever persists for more than a day. Also call if your child shows other signs of illness, such as a cough or diarrhea.
   • If you have an older child or an adult, see the doctor at a temperature of 39 ° C or higher.
4. Clean the thermometer again before putting it away. Wash it with cold water and soap, rubbing the entire length of the thermometer, focusing especially on the tip. Rinse it thoroughly with water when you are done.
   • If you don't clean it, bacteria can infect the next person to use it.

Tips

• If you want to dispose of an old mercury thermometer, call the city council to find out how best to dispose of it. Mercury thermometers belong to small chemical waste.

Warnings

• Always check the thermometer for cracks or leaks before using it to take the temperature.
• If a mercury thermometer breaks, call the GGD in your area for more information. If it is not mercury, it is non-toxic and you can clean it up with kitchen paper.