Glass Thermometers
 Glass thermometers
cost about $2 each. These simple devices offer the cheapest way
to take a temperature. Glass thermometers come in two types:
- a rectal model with a short, rounded bulb that goes into
the anus. The rectal thermometer can be used for children until
the age of five or six, when many children learn to use an oral
thermometer correctly.
- an oral model with a thin bulb that goes under the tongue.
Both of the glass models can also take armpit temperature.
How to shake down a glass thermometer:
Before taking a temperature with a glass thermometer, you must
shake down the thermometer to bring the mercury level to below
96°F.
To do this, hold the end opposite the bulb tightly between
your fingers and flick your wrist sharply several times. Glass
thermometers break easily, so you'll want to do this away from
counters or hard objects.
How to read a glass thermometer:
Glass thermometers contain mercury and need to be read manually.
Because it takes some practice to read a glass thermometer, you
may want to try it before one of your family members becomes
ill. Hold the thermometer between your thumb and index finger
at the end opposite the bulb. Roll the thermometer back and forth
slowly until you see the mercury column. The number at the end
of the column is the temperature.
|
