clinical thermometer

I'd like to get a new clinical thermometer (just to have one in the house) and replace the glass Hg one we have now. I'm off to Boots in the morning to see what they have - but wonder if someone here knows a make they can recommend (and where from + cost?) Out of interest, how accurate are the digital ones? The glass ones are calibrated to 0.1 degree C Thanks

Reply to
dave
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The digital ones are OK...t'other day I saw an infra red forehead thermometer which I thought was a good idea.

sponix

Reply to
sponix

Skin temperature isn't such an accurate measure. It's useful when you want to check 1000/hr coming through immigration though. Pointing the thing in your mouth can be a little more accurate in some circumstances.

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

dave wrote

I've had one a few years; forgotten what it cost, but not a lot.

It has a metallic bulb to suck, and it reads (is accurate to) .1 deg C.

It doesn't do Fahrenheit, so I've made a conversion table for the critical area.

My only crib is that it's quite slow, about 30 secs or so before it beeps.

But it can be chucked about.

Reply to
mike

In message , mike wrote

Aldi/Lidl often have them as a special item for around £2.

Reply to
Alan

..but if you have a screaming child that needs their temperature taking, which is better?

sponix

Reply to
sponix

Clinical thermometer is definately better for stopping the screaming, at least for a minute. By insisting on a second reading, you might spin out 2 minute's worth ;-)

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

It has a *resolution* of 0.1 degC - which is not the same as *accuracy*.

Reply to
Set Square

Set Square wrote

Funnily enough, I was ready for a bit of pedantry, must be I know whereto I post.

It reads to .1 deg C The tek spek says:

Accuracy +/- 0.1 deg C between 34deg C and 42 deg C at an ambient blah, blah.

(Now I've got to fold the ruddy thing up again)

Reply to
mike

And we mustn't forget repeatability either.

Reply to
dave

We have an IR stick in yer ear jobbie. No problems with the kids accepting it. Much quicker(*) than a LCD forehead thing which they did object to and safer than a glass/Hg stick it in the mouth one. Even more fun if you let them pop off the hygiene cover. It's a Braun Thermoscan, not cheap at about =A330 but worth it for the speed and ease= of use on the kids.

(*) A reading is

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

I've not been fully convinced that ear wax won't mess those up, and they advocate buying loads of throw away sheaths, which didn't appeal either.

I needed to replace a failed thermometer last week. In the end I went for a regular digital, a Microlife 10-second jobby (actually 20 seconds, unless you go for the alien probe method). Very impressed, it is fast for its type and has a nice back light, plus water proof.

Normally I'm quite happy with mercury/glass, doesn't need batteries and keeps it's accuracy. But having little kiddies persuaded me otherwise - I hate chasing mercury blobs on carpets with shiny 2p's trying to gather them all up.

Tim

Reply to
Tim S

There's nothing better than the one you've got. You can measure the temperature of an adult or child under the tongue. A recalcitrant child's temperature may be measured rectally. Measurements taken at the armpit or on the forehaead are always "out". If the thermomether you get can measure to within 0.1 degree in an inaccurate place it does not help. Half a degree properly measured is better.

Reply to
Chris Bacon

I use the thermal colour change disposable type, which is what my local hospital uses. They need no batteries and if you break one they don't drop mercury about.

Colin Bignell

Reply to
nightjar

They are it seems quite reliable - wife is a doc (though in a different field ) and seems happy with it.

We have thrown away one I think. unless I suspect an ear infection I've not bothered to thrown it away.

We have a digital probe type one as well (a freebie from drug rep) works ok but fiddlier than the ear one.

Reply to
chris French

We have an IR stick in yer ear jobbie. No problems with the kids accepting it. Much quicker(*) than a LCD forehead thing which they did object to and safer than a glass/Hg stick it in the mouth one. Even more fun if you let them pop off the hygiene cover. It's a Braun Thermoscan, not cheap at about £30 but worth it for the speed and ease of use on the kids.

(*) A reading is

Reply to
Brian Sharrock

I recently inquired about the difference between an "Oral" and "Anal" thermometer.

The taste I am told.

Baz

Reply to
Baz

dave wrote

Pardon?

Reply to
mike

I take it you don't have kids?

If they aren't going accept sucking something for a minute, no way are they going to let you stick something up their bottom.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Why should it? It'll be at core temp within the ear canal.

Sick squid for 40, hardly a great expense. We still have about 10 of the original 40 I bought with the thermometer several years back.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

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