The Mercury thermometer It is a classic temperature measurement instrument still used by many families. Although there are currently varieties of digital thermometers, this design is still in high demand, as well as being very simple to use.
If you are not sure how to use a mercury thermometer and you have doubts about how to read this instrument, don’t miss the following unCOMO article, as we share with you everything you need to know.
How a mercury thermometer works
Before explaining to you how to use a mercury thermometer correctly, you must take into account the operation of that instrument.
These types of thermometers have a chemical element called mercury inside them. This substance expands in the face of heat, thus measuring with absolute precision the body temperature of whoever uses it. Mercury thermometers have numbers and, in the middle, they have a very thin line drawn that is responsible for indicating the temperature value.
Although it is true that for a mercury thermometer to work properly, its bulb can be inserted into the mouth, the rest or the armpit of the patient, this last option is usually the most used and effective. You ask yourself in which armpit the temperature is taken? It is indifferent, because the important thing is that it is taken correctly by following the steps that we offer you below.
How to use a mercury thermometer
The time has come to learn how to use a mercury thermometer correctly, so carefully follow the steps below.
- Clean the thermometerBefore using the mercury thermometer, it must always be cleaned well to ensure that it is properly disinfected. To do this, you must use a cotton ball soaked in antiseptic alcohol and pass it through the bulb of the thermometer, that is, through the metal part that will come into contact with your body or the patient’s body to measure the temperature.
- Shake the thermometer– Once the mercury thermometer is clean, you are ready to measure the temperature. Start by taking the thermometer from the side opposite the bulb and shake it vigorously to lower any remaining mercury residue. This will ensure that the indicated temperature is reliable.
- Choose the area of the body: this type of thermometer can be used in three zones of the body, under the tongue (recommended only for adults or adolescents), in the armpit or in the rectal area. From a HOWTO we recommend that you place the mercury thermometer under the armpit, so if it is to take the temperature of a baby or a small child, be sure to carefully hold his arm so that it does not move during the temperature measurement.
- Wait 5 minutes– Once you have decided the area in which you will use the thermometer, place it and wait 3 to 5 minutes, time in which the mercury will have already risen to indicate the temperature. It is recommended to time the time to avoid removing the thermometer early.
- Lower the mercury and store it well: once you have read the temperature correctly as we will explain in the next section, you have to shake the mercury thermometer again so that the substance goes down. Disinfect it with rubbing alcohol one more time and put it away.
If you decide to use the thermometer in the rectum, keep in mind that it is best to dispose of the instrument once you have taken the temperature and acquire a new one to be able to measure the fever under the tongue.
How to read a mercury thermometer
To learn how to use the mercury thermometer, you have to know how to read it correctly. So that you have no doubts and know exactly if you have a fever or not, we will explain below how to read a mercury thermometer.
After the waiting time that we have indicated previously, remove the thermometer and observe the temperature up to which the central line reaches, as this will indicate body heat. We are considered to have a fever when our temperature exceeds 37 degrees, even if they are only tenths of a fever (that is, not very worrying).
If the temperature touches, reaches or exceeds 40 degrees, you will have to see a doctor urgently, as it will be necessary to lower it immediately to avoid further damage.
Do you have a digital thermometer and you don’t know how to read it properly? We give you all the information in this article on How to use a digital thermometer. And if you do not have any of these instruments at hand, be sure to visit this other text on How to know if you have a fever without a thermometer, because there we explain what steps you should follow and what remedies you can use to lower your fever.
This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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