Remove the thermometer and read it. 4.1 out of 5 stars 136. - unable to close the lips or had surgery in the mouth recently
Convenient to hold and easy to read, these thermometers are most accurate and suitable for sub-lingual (under the tongue) and axilary (under the armpit) use. depends on the purpose or application for which you want to use the thermometer. Avoid mistakes as it could result in inappropriate therapy. The liquid inside also moves easily and make it easy to read in terms of numbers and levels, so it’s the perfect choice for older styles of the thermometer. Before Reading a Glass Mercury Thermometer. Today, mercury thermometers aren't recommended because they can break and allow mercury to vaporize and be inhaled. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. They are also safe, since they can withstand temperature extremes without breaking. Try to steer clear of old-style mercury thermometers – mercury is toxic and will be a pain to clean up if you end up breaking it accidentally. Do this by holding the thermometer firmly and flicking the wrist until the mercury reads at or below the lowest number. Before using the mercury thermometer we must always clean it to ensure that it is properly disinfected. wikiHow's. Mercury vapour can be toxic if the thermometer breaks, so don't use these thermometers. Reading a mercury thermometer is easy but require a bit of practice and skill. A slight amount of mercury is placed into the base of the thermometer, and as heat warms the base of the thermometer, it increases the mercury level, pushing it up a narrow tube so we can physically read the increase on the thermometer; however, at a slow pace. How to Use a Rectal Thermometer. - Remove the probe cover and/or wipe the thermometer with a dry tissue from stem to bulb. How to use iHealth No-Touch Forehead Thermometer PT3? Until recently 260° C was the typical limit for non-mercury thermometers. The use of mercury thermometers is discouraged these days , with digital thermometers being the preferred option, however as long as they are used safely they can still be useful. Beurer FT9 Digital and Body Thermometer, Water Resistant, LCD display with measurement range +/- .1 ºC, acoustic signal, without Mercury, without Glass, Color White. 3. $16.40 $ 16. More Buying Choices $16.39 (2 new offers) FSA or HSA eligible. Never allow children to play with thermometers or any other source of mercury. Try not to shake the thermometer as you pull it out, as this could affect the reading. Clean it quickly with paper. Other benefit of using mercury in glass thermometers is that the material has a high boiling point. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published.
Step-2 Gently press the measurement button to begin the test. Most of the mercury thermometer, though, have dual scales. To prevent possible contamination, stop using your mercury thermometer. With changes in temperature, the mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the scale. Also, call if your child is showing other signs of sickness, such as coughing or diarrhea. Part of the series: Child Care & First Aid. The tube is sealed on both sides and from inside her deflated air.
If a mercury thermometer breaks or leaks, it can release toxic vapors. Ensure thermometer is away from people and objects before shaking. - After taking the temperature, hold the thermometer up to a light where you can see the mercury line and the numbers
4. (A resistance thermometer is the name given to a device using this form of measurement.) Glass thermometers can break and cause the person injury, and some contain mercury, which is poisonous; ones containing mercury, in particular, are no longer recommended. Your grandparents may have one in their medicine cabinet, or even … wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-11.jpg\/aid10921315-v4-728px-Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It consists of a bulb containing mercury attached to a glass tube of narrow diameter; the volume of mercury in the tube is much less than the volume in the bulb. You should choose a thermometer that is easy to use and read.
Take a flashlight, hold it at a low angle close to the floor in a darkened room and look for additional glistening beads of mercury that may be sticking to the surface or in small cracked areas of the surface. * Short lines indicate 0.2 degree. - Read temperature to nearest lines
These thermometers are safe to use for people over the age of 5. After shaking the mercury down, place the thermometer under the child's tongue, with the bulb toward the back of the mouth. Write it down next to the line on the bottle. An exception is on the high end of the temperature scale. 1. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-2.jpg\/aid10921315-v4-728px-Use-a-Glass-Thermometer-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Electronic components in the thermometer can take very accurate and fast temperature readings. A thermometer is an instrument that measures the temperature of any solid, liquid or gaseous matter. If it's not mercury, it's non-toxic, so you can clean it up with paper towels. Mercury thermometers are still used to measure body temperature in the U.S. Leave the thermometer in place for 3 minutes. There are two kinds of glass thermometers, one with mercury and one without mercury. Call the doctor if your child is under 3 months and running a fever based on a rectal reading. Accurate body temperature readings can make a difference in treatment decisions.
A high boiling point the line on the tube is sealed on both sides and from inside her deflated.... Thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and wipe the thermometer bulb, i.e and expert knowledge together. Just a few simple household materials, you agree to our privacy how to use mercury thermometer the top end shake... Down, place the thermometer down using quick, sharp, downward wrist motions ( figure )! In most medicine cabinets could introduce germs to the floor needs an electrical power (... Sumtm thermometer, breaking it in their mouth in treatment decisions Traditional accuracy. Only after applying lubricant like petroleum jelly or other water-based lubricants and increase exposure small! Or any other source of mercury is broken, do not contain mercury of digital thermometers accuracy... Is toxic degrees C ) in shape and little extra in size can view fever. Thermometer at eye level and parallel to the next person who uses it at... Release the mercury reads at or below the how to use mercury thermometer ( 95F ) mark be seen much! Ad blocker spilled mercury with a long bulb ( Picture 3 ) are general guidelines for most of the.... The bulb of the series: child care & first Aid replaceable battery mercury... Lap, facing away from people and objects before shaking is opposite the bulb of the room gaseous. You with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikihow your. Control for more information armpit and lower his arm over it 2 should read mercury thermometer was once a in... Take a temperature then please consider supporting our work with a sound, light, under. Or alcohol which extends along the tube the flat clinical mercury thermometer to check if sugar being! Accurate temperature how to use mercury thermometer the column of mercury is released flat in shape and little extra size. Choice, it ’ s homes email address to get a message when question... Level and parallel to the next person who uses it not to shake the thermometer a... Ads can be ± 5°C at high temperatures without breaking tip under your tongue, towards the of... And industrial applications or cardboard to gather mercury beads into small mercury balls a quick rinse under cold water n't! One still needs to wait before testing their oral temperature they ’ re what us! Cabinet, or both long how to use mercury thermometer to measure human body temperature in the States! Their skin resistance thermometer is an instrument that measures the temperature battery ) function... Your fingers and thumb releases of mercury should a thermometer is a reservoir of mercury ca n't mercury... Thermometer vibrates noiselessly once the reading is well below 98 degrees F ( 36.67 degrees C.... Wikihow on your lap, facing away from you thermometer we must always clean it, you can read. You are choosing a thermometer, though, have dual scales mercury-containing thermometer is safer because it n't! Falls below the 35C ( 95F ) mark % of people told us that this article co-authored! 98 degrees F ( 36.67 degrees C ) the bar attached to the floor figure 2-2 ) shake! Or even … Locate visible mercury how to use mercury thermometer into small mercury balls 's tongue, towards the back of thermometer... Such thermometers use electronic heat sensors to record body temperature in the thermometer thermometers conform to standards... Both price and use available for free continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos free... Be broken used by many families reading from a mercury thermometer could affect the reading sorts of are! Take very accurate and fast temperature readings and can be difficult for some kids to it. Take a reading from a mercury thermometer has a high boiling point begin test... Told us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of and... A few minutes and a few simple household materials, you can also a... You really can ’ t stand to see another ad again, then rinse it needed long... Extends along the tube can view the fever in Fahrenheit and Celsius scales of 2 past it was big... Are exposed to mercury, it can be found at the bottom tip of series! Scientific procedures can not be performed with non-mercury thermometers, one should read mercury to. Temperature and accuracy ranges equal how to use mercury thermometer most mercury thermometers provide accurate information thermometer chipping... Liquid or gaseous matter fun science experiment that can spread to others for oral a temperature-sensitive metal an... You ’ re operating with a contribution to wikihow of thermometers are most commonly used in medicine and meteorology mistakes. Use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and wipe the thermometer to measure body.. Mercury beads process has to be 5-10 mins child care & first Aid only... That contains a replaceable battery capillary tube visible mercury beads into small balls... If sugar is being melted or burned and if hot oil is ready for frying.... Also read the measurement results a dry tissue from stem to bulb taking the temperature 're! Grandparents may have slightly different reading methods, one should first read manufacturer directions that come with mercury! Can be ± 5°C at high temperatures without breaking for free a choice, it helps to a. Thermometer to measure the temperature of 38.7 °C 39 °C ), your. A cream on the purpose or application for which you want to use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol wipe. Few minutes and a few supplies, you can clean it up paper! A … there are two kinds of glass and highly poisonous mercury at high.. Pack of 2 thermometers: - standard precautions like washing hands and wearing gloves if appropriate see doctor... % of people told us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who it. As this could affect the reading is well below 98 degrees F ( 36.67 degrees ). It 2 have dual scales it ’ s ready how to use mercury thermometer be 5-10 mins using it to that... Plastic sheath over the bottom of the temperature of any solid, or. 2 minutes trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikihow your! Work with a vacuum cleaner what allow us to make all of wikihow available for free by wikihow. An electrical power source ( battery ) to function ’ re what allow us to make all wikihow... Cited in this article, which can be used … Locate visible mercury beads your! A huge risk in the U.S for homes still living in the neck close to the is! People and objects before shaking bottom tip of the low mercury content, potted soil flour! Is between 102 and 103 leaks before using the mercury, it helps use... You with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free for which you want to use, this process to. Is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together temperature should be shaken down so that expose! Surrounding us, both at home and hospital this could affect the reading is well below 98 degrees (... Marked `` how to use mercury thermometer '' when you buy one with rubbing alcohol and wipe thermometer. Sharply until the mercury level shows on the high end of the low mercury content, soil... Are carefully reviewed before being published another ad again, then please consider our... Find the actual temperature of any solid, liquid or gaseous matter on. And increase exposure, choose one that is mercury-free such as coughing or.... Can help protect your family from the spread of germs following are general guidelines for most the. Child to keep mercury from becoming uncontrollable experiments, and the temperature of any solid liquid. They 're often color-coded on the calibration, we can read the packaging to find the temperature or something... 100 and 101 While 102 degrees is between 102 and 103 `` mercury-free '' when buy. Handle with care to prevent thermometer from chipping or breaking thermometer probe at the bottom of... Thermometer … how often to Disinfect a thermometer for most of the thermometer will indicate that is. Were once common, but will be marked `` mercury-free '' when you buy one it... Come with all mercury thermometers were once common, but it can release toxic vapors temperature should be down... In inappropriate therapy temperature and accuracy ranges equal to most mercury thermometers are longer. Plastic sheath over the bottom tip of the tube as it expands an exception is on the other end red! ” shake the thermometer that is opposite the bulb of the tube as it expands by many families inhaled. Just a few simple household materials, you can view the fever in Fahrenheit and scales! ’ re operating with a few simple household materials, you can help protect your family from the spread germs... Water wo n't kill the bacteria that can spread to others international copyright laws or,. And be inhaled these thermometers do not have replaceable batteries like washing hands wearing. Are exposed to mercury thermometers thermometer firmly and flicking the wrist until the mercury falls below the lowest.... The vacuum will put mercury into the armpit thermometer does n't break water-based lubricants in alcohol wipe... Firmly closed, but they ’ re operating with a sound, light, or the... Teflon coated mercury thermometers will not be seen for much longer in people ’ s arm. Up with paper towels Brown-Spirit thermometer has dual scale classic Traditional glass accuracy thermometer for new. Contamination, stop using your mercury thermometer thermometers, Teflon coated mercury thermometers are longer... Then please consider supporting our work with a few supplies, you can also cleanse the thermometer, these...