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Take An
Oral
Temperatu
re
Glass thermometers with alcohol inside may also be used for oral temperatures.
This thermometer is a thin glass tube with a red or blue line inside it. These
thermometers are safe to use for people over the age of 5. A child younger than
5 may bite the thermometer, breaking it in their mouth. Glass thermometers with
galinstan (GAL-in-stan) may also be used to check an oral temperature.
Galinstan thermometers have a silver-colored line, but will be marked "mercuryfree" when you buy one. Alcohol-filled and galinstan glass thermometers are
harder to find in regular grocery stores.
mercury may be swallowed. Mercury is bad for your health, as well as for the
water, wildlife, and waste systems on earth.
Put the tip into a new throw-away plastic cover if one is available. If you do not
have a cover, clean the pointed end (probe) with soap and warm water or
rubbing alcohol. Rinse it with cool water.
With your mouth open, put the covered tip under your tongue.
Keep the thermometer under your tongue until the digital thermometer beeps.
Read the numbers in the window. These numbers are your temperature.
Your caregiver may want you to keep a temperature record. Write down the time
and your temperature each time you take it.
Hold the thermometer by the end opposite the colored (red, blue, or silver) tip.
Clean the thermometer with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol. Rinse with
cool water.
Turn the thermometer in your hand until you see the red, blue, or silver line. The
line should read less than 96 F (35.6 C). If the line reads more than 96 F
(35.6 C), firmly shake the thermometer downward several times. Shake the
thermometer over a couch or bed. This will keep it from breaking if it slips out
of your hand.
Check the thermometer again to make sure it reads less than 96F (35.6C).
With your mouth open, put the end with the red, blue, or silver-colored tip under
your tongue.
Close your lips gently around the thermometer. Do not bite the glass
thermometer.
Slowly turn the thermometer until you see the red, blue, or silver-colored line.
Each long mark on the thermometer is the same as 1 degree. Short marks are the
same as 0.2 degree.
Your caregiver may want you to keep a temperature record. Write down the time
and your temperature each time you take it.
Wash the thermometer with soap and warm water. Do not use hot water because
it may break the thermometer.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn how to
take an oral temperature. You can then discuss your treatment options with your
caregiver. You can work with your caregiver to decide what care will be used to treat
you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Copyright 2012. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's
use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice
for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before
following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.