During the epidemic, have you mastered the skills to cope with body changes and measure body temperature?

After the epidemic became normalized, taking body temperature has become something we are no longer unfamiliar with. Whether it is used at home or in public, it is very important for us to have a thermometer and learn how to measure correctly, so that we can monitor body temperature in time and pay attention to changes in our body.

However, sometimes people don’t know much about the relevant methods and precautions of measurement, which can easily lead to wrong results or invalid measurements. Therefore, for the common mercury thermometer, today we will take you to learn about the relevant knowledge of measuring body temperature.

Image source: Baidu Gallery

How to take the correct measurement?

1. Axillary temperature: Place the measuring head in the middle of the armpit and hold it tightly with your arm. Take it out after 5 to 10 minutes.

2. Oral temperature: Place the measuring head under our tongue and press it down with a little force. Do not open your mouth during the process and remove it after about 5 minutes.

3. Rectal temperature: Insert the measuring head about 2 cm into the anus, be gentle, and remove it after measuring for about 5 minutes.

What should I pay attention to when measuring body temperature?

1. If you eat, bathe, or do strenuous exercise before measuring, the measurement results will be affected. You need to wait about half an hour before measuring again.

2. Before using the thermometer, be sure to keep the mercury column below 35°C. When reading, hold the end away from the measuring head and keep your eyes level when looking at the thermometer. If the measured value is slightly higher than the normal range, there may be a measurement error. You can measure it multiple times to get the average value.

3. If you measure axillary temperature, keep your armpit dry; if you measure oral temperature, do not eat any food or drink ice or hot water 30 minutes before measuring, and do not smoke; if you measure rectal temperature, you can apply some lubricant such as water or glycerin near the measuring head of the thermometer, and be sure to fix the thermometer with your hand when measuring.

How to perform disinfection correctly?

After measuring the body temperature, shake it down to below 35°C, rinse it with clean water first, shake off as much water as possible, then wipe it with a 75% alcohol cotton pad or soak it in alcohol for 3 to 5 minutes, and put it in the cleaning box for next use.

Image source: Baidu Gallery

What should I do if a mercury thermometer is accidentally broken?

1. Turn off the heating device in your home and open the doors and windows for ventilation to reduce the concentration of mercury vapor in the air. Note that the windows should be opened for ventilation for more than 24 hours.

2. Wear gloves and masks, and carefully collect the scattered mercury with a dropper, cotton swab, tape, syringe, etc. If the naked eye cannot see clearly due to insufficient light indoors, you can use a flashlight to illuminate the ground to improve the search efficiency.

3. After collecting, in order to prevent the mercury from volatilizing, you can put the mercury ball in a mineral water bottle with water. Because the density of mercury is greater than that of water, it will sink to the bottom of the bottle smoothly. If mercury is accidentally scattered on clothes or bedding, you must pay attention to fully airing the clothes or bedding after collecting to avoid residue.

4. Seal the mineral water bottle, attach a waste mercury label and place it in a toxic and hazardous waste bin, or send it to a recycling point designated by the environmental protection department.

5. If you accidentally ingest mercury, don't panic. See if there is milk or egg white at home and drink it first for emergency treatment.

The correct operation method is the premise for obtaining accurate measurement results, but everyone should also pay attention to choosing a regular and qualified thermometer. Although mercury thermometers are cheap and accurate, they are not recommended for children under 3 years old and the elderly because they contain mercury and are fragile. Ear thermometers are more recommended for children.