In other regions, such as the United States and Asia, some mercury thermometers are still used in industry, but they are being phased out. In the European Union, mercury "measuring instruments" such as thermometers have long been banned. It can be particularly dangerous in a children's playroom if liquid mercury seeps into cracks and corners and is left undisturbed to vaporize.įortunately, many thermometers, even household ones, are digital now. Mercury vapor is its most dangerous formĮven a simple thing such as a broken thermometer can lead to mercury poisoning. Mercury is no longer used in thermometers but was once very common Image: Fotolia/bzyxxĮxposure to mercury can cause a neurological disorder called erethism mercurialis, which can cause irritability and depression. It's a nerve poison that can cause sleep disorders, agitation and paralysis. If mercury vapor is inhaled, it is easily absorbed by the body, where it first gets into the lungs and from there into the blood and the brain. And when it vaporizes, it fills the air with tiny, invisible mercury atoms that are both scentless and soluble in oils or fats. The liquid form of mercury is especially dangerous because it vaporizes at room temperature. Later, it was florescent lamps and some early energy saving lamps. But it was also used in electrical switches or relays that were built into machines until the mid-20th century. * Always store the thermometer in its own case.People tend to associate mercury with its silvery liquid form - as found in old thermometers.
* Wash the thermometer after use with soap and cold water. * If your thermometer is cracked, throw it away immediately. * Make sure there’s no break in the mercury column inside the thermometer – it will affect the reading. * Never take your child’s temperature if he’s just stopped running about. Use a liquid crystal strip for this method.Ĭarefully position the head-sensitive side on your child’s forehead – the temperature should light up on the outside of the strip. NOTE: The reading when taken in the armpit will be 0.6 degrees C (1 degree F) lower than the child’s actual temperature. Hold the arm down for two minutes (or according to manufacturer’s instructions), remove and read. Tuck the bulb of the thermometer into the armpit and lower his arm over itĢ. With the thermometer in your right hand, raise your child’s left arm so that you expose the armpit. Sit your child on your lap, facing away from you. Hold the thermometer by the top end and shake it down sharply until the mercury falls below the 35C (95F) mark. Using a mercury thermometer – armpit methodġ. To read a mercury thermometer, hold it between your finger and thumb and turn it until you can see the point on the scale. Made of glass, they register the temperature when the mercury expands to the tube to the point of the scale.īECAUSE THE GLASS CAN BREAK A MERCURY THERMOMETER SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN AN OLDER CHILD AND EVEN THEN ONLY ON THE ARMPIT. Mercury thermometers are the most accurate means of measuring but rarely used now.
Liquid crystal thermometers aren’t as accurate but are safe and easy to use and give you enough of a general idea to allay anxieties.
When the sensitive side is placed on the forehead, the numbers (your child’s temperature) light up. Liquid crystal thermometers have a heat-sensitive panel on one side and panels with numbers on the other. There are three main types of thermometer:ĭigital thermometers are easy to use with children of all ages and are safer than mercury thermometers to use in the mouth, since they’re unbreakable. When your child has a fever you should take his temperature again after 20 minutes, just in case it was only a transitory peak. Hypothermia develops if the temperature falls below 35 degrees C (95F).īody temperature varies according to how active your child has been and the time of day: it is lowest in the morning as there is little muscle activity during sleep, and highest in late afternoon. Any temperature over 37.7C (100F) is classed as a fever. In children, normal body temperature ranges from 36 degrees C (96.8F) to 37C (98.6F).
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