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How To Take An OralTemperature Care Guide

How To Take An Oral Temperature

How To Take An Oral TemperatureDischarge Care

En Espanol

How To Take An Oral Temperature

What is it?

An oral temperature (TEM-per-ah-chur) is when the

mouth is used to take your temperature. A temperaturemeasures body heat. A thermometer (ther-MOM-uh-ter)

is used to take your temperature in your mouth. A

person should be 5 years or older to have a temperature

taken in the mouth.

Why do I need to check an oraltemperature?

You may need to check an oral temperature to learn if

you or a family member has a fever. "Fever" is a word

used for a temperature that is higher than normal for the

body. Fever is usually a sign of illness, infection, or other

conditions. The normal oral temperature for adults is

about 98.6 F (37 C). The normal oral temperature for a

child is between 97.6 and 99.3 F (36.4 and 37.4 C).

The normal oral temperature for older persons is 98.2 F

(36.8 C). Body temperature changes slightly through

the day and night, and may change based on your

activity.

What kind of thermometer isused to take an oral temperature?

A digital thermometer is used to take an oral temperature. It is a small hand-held device with a "window"showing your temperature in numbers. There are many kinds of digital thermometers. Most digitalthermometers are easy to use and measure body temperature within seconds. Carefully read theinstructions before using your digital thermometer. Digital thermometers can be bought at grocery, drug

or medical supply stores.

Glass thermometers with alcohol inside may also be used for oral temperatures. This thermometer is athin glass tube with a red or blue line inside it. These thermometers are safe to use for people over theage of 5. A child younger than 5 may bite the thermometer, breaking it in their mouth. Glassthermometers with galinstan (GAL-in-stan) may also be used to check an oral temperature. Galinstanthermometers have a silver-colored line, but will be marked "mercury-free" when you buy one. Alcohol-filled and galinstan glass thermometers are harder to find in regular grocery stores.

In the past, mercury (MER-kure-e) thermometers were used. This thermometer is a thin glass tube witha silver tip and line inside. The silver tip and line is mercury. Mercury is a toxic and hazardous chemical.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and otherorganizations warn against using mercury thermometers. If the thermometer breaks, the mercury maybe breathed in or absorbed (soaked) into your skin. If a glass thermometer breaks while checking anoral temperature, the mercury may be swallowed. Mercury is bad for your health, as well as for thewater, wildlife, and waste systems on earth.

If you have a mercury thermometer, replace it with a digital thermometer. You may also replace it with aglass thermometer having alcohol or galinstan instead of mercury in it. If your mercury thermometerbreaks, do not touch the thermometer or the mercury. Do not try to clean up the spill. Open yourwindows to air out the area. Take children and pets out of the area right away. Contact the following:

24-Hour Nationwide Poison Control HotlineNational Capital Poison Center3201 New Mexico Avenue, Suite 310Washington , DC 20016Phone: 1- 800 - 222-1222Web Address: http://www.poison.org

How do I use a digital thermometer?

There should not be anything hot or cold in your mouth for 10 minutes before taking your temperature.

Take the thermometer out of its holder.

Put the tip into a new throw-away plastic cover if one is available. If you do not have a cover, clean thepointed 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.

Close your lips gently around the thermometer.

Keep the thermometer under your tongue until the digital thermometer beeps.

Remove the thermometer when numbers show up in the "window".

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 temperatureeach time you take it.

Remove or eject the throw-away cover if you used one.

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Place the thermometer back in its holder.