In the article, we will consider whether a mercury thermometer can lie. People complain about thermometers quite often, no matter how modern they are. If you understand the situation, it’s not at all that they are deceiving, namely, patients make mistakes during their use. So can a mercury thermometer lie? Let's find out.
Distortion of results
He will certainly lie in the event that a person ate well and drank hot tea, and then immediately measured the indicators orally. Or when they take a cold shower or bath.
A mercury thermometer misinforms if you hold it loosely in the armpit area or forget to wipe it from sweat before bringing manipulation. You can not measure the temperature through clothes. It happens that thermometers sin when they place their sensitive part where it is not needed. For example, a mercury thermometer should reach the middle of the armpit and be slightly crushed.
Rectal measurements are only required if the rectum is not filled with feces. It is important to comply with all the requirements of the instructions for thermometers, holding the device as much as necessary, according to its recommendations.
The division value of a mercury thermometer
To determine this indicator, the lower one is taken from the upper neighboring value. Then divided by the number of divisions, for example, 37 - 36 = 1:10 = 0.1.
How much to measure temperature with a mercury thermometer?
Such a device for measurement is only five minutes. But just as much time is necessary for the temperature of the armpit to have time to equalize with the indicators of the body. Therefore, it is better to carry out the procedure within ten minutes.
Measurement rules for accurate results
In order to obtain the most accurate results from this procedure, you must familiarize yourself with the following recommendations:
- Before measuring values in the armpit, make sure that it is completely dry. If a person is sweating, then this area of the body is wiped dry with a paper towel. Such an event avoids false values that occur against the background of evaporation of sweat and cooling of the patient's skin.
- Before the start of operation, the thermometer is shaken to an indicator: 35.5.
- The air temperature in the room in which the measurements are taken should be in the range of eighteen to twenty-five degrees. If the room is colder, then before starting the procedure, you need to warm the thermometer with your palms.
- When installing a mercury thermometer in the armpit, make sure that the tip is in contact with the skin. When the thermometer is fully installed, it is important to ensure that the hand is lowered while holding it.
- At the time of measuring indicators, you can not move, eat or talk.
- It is incorrect to assess the temperature value of the body immediately after a walk or bath. In the event that a person has recently suffered stress, this procedure is delayed for thirty to forty minutes.
Many people wonder if a mercury thermometer can lie. Or is it better to choose an electronic device?
Cons of mercury thermometers and their accuracy
Here are the significant disadvantages of mercury thermometers:
- The presence of a fragile glass bulb breaking upon impact or as a result of falling onto a hard surface. In addition to small glass fragments that scatter across the floor, mercury drops are even more dangerous, which must be urgently removed and disposed of properly, and the room should be thoroughly ventilated from mercury vapor.
- The waiting time for the temperature measurement results is up to ten minutes.
- The presence of inconvenience due to proper retention, especially for babies, which parents have to try to keep in a forced position for the accuracy of the results.
- A certain error of the mercury thermometer is possible (usually 0.1 degrees), which has a certain value on different thermometers.
Benefits of Mercury Thermometers
In the last century, mercury thermometers were available in every home medicine cabinet, in addition, they faithfully served the whole family for many years, if they did not break by accident. It is customary to call such a medical instrument the maximum (there are still minimal, or non-fixative ones), because the mercury column reaches the highest point in body temperature and it holds there until the thermometer is shaken.
Such a device is quite convenient and accurate (its minimum error, as a rule, fits within 0.1 degrees). Subject to careful and correct handling, the device does not wear out. It is wiped with cotton wool, which is moistened with alcohol, and thus the item is disinfected. The cost in pharmacies for such devices is available to everyone.
Let's consider how to bring down a mercury thermometer correctly.
Everything needs to be done correctly.
A medical mercury thermometer, in contrast to electronic versions, is classified as maximum. It has a narrowing in the capillary, due to this, after the cooling process, there is no decrease in the readings. Therefore, immediately before each measurement, it is necessary to shake it thoroughly. They recommend following certain rules as part of knocking down temperature scales.
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Directly the knocking process itself is carried out as follows: they take a thermometer in the hand. Then it is pulled and lifted, and then sharply lowered. Shake the device in this way several times, then look at the scale. In the event that the readings still exceed thirty-five degrees, then repeat the manipulation.
Based on the information presented, it will now be easy for you to conclude for yourself whether a mercury thermometer can lie.