How to Use a Forehead Thermometer Efficiently

Introduction

Thermometers are quintessential devices which can be found in all household. This is the case because thermometers can broadly be characterized as essentiality that gives you a brief insight into a person’s health. 

Early detection of fevers, which is done via thermometers, gives you a chance to have the upper hand over the mild illness, which could eventually lead to acute illness. It allows you a chance to take preventive medication and measures.

In most cases, the temperature of a person is taken when they show symptoms of fever. However, statistics show that it can prove to be beneficial if the temperature is taken on a regular basis. Regular measuring ensures an alert of irregularity and lets you know if something is wrong.

Why do I need a Thermometer?

why thermometers introduced

To minimize complexity and increase efficiency, various kinds of thermometers have been introduced to help the user. Specialized thermometers have come into the scene that serves a specific and specialized function and gives you the results accordingly.

While the thermometer is a broad category which also involves devices that measure the ambient temperatures, the thermometer that we common people usually discuss is the clinical thermometer. 

The clinical thermometer itself is a broad category that includes several professional thermometers such as a digital thermometer, probe thermometer, rectal thermometer, oral thermometer, forehead thermometer, and ear thermometer. Each performs the function of measuring the temperature of the human body, while the principal objective and application differ.

While the digital thermometer, which may be inclusive of rectal, oral, and axillary thermometer measure the temperature of the person with direct contact and can also cause mild discomfort, the state-of-the-art thermometers such as forehead and ear sustain non-contact measurement, ensure utmost hygiene and also promote quick and comfortable measurement.

Forehead thermometers are ideal for taking the temperature of babies who often find rectal or oral thermometers highly irksome.

forehead thermometer baby

The functionality of the forehead thermometer is so simplistic and easy that it demands minimal effort from the parent and causes no pain whatsoever to the baby. We will discuss how to use the forehead thermometer in-depth in this article and explore more aspects of the forehead thermometer.

What is Forehead Thermometer

The forehead thermometer is also known by the name of the temporal artery thermometer. This device uses the infrared technology that measures the temperature of the temporal artery of the person whose temperature is being measured.

All you have to do is swipe the device across the forehead of the person without maintaining contact, and the temperature will get registered in the system. Some forehead thermometers, on the other hand, requires a gentle press against the temple of the person. This is different from the forehead thermometer that sustains no-contact function.

Forehead thermometers are generally ideal for babies under the age of 3 months, because any other thermometer will cause major discomfort to the baby. Not only is the application comfortable, but the accuracy of the device has also been credited. This is as opposed to digital thermometers, which may prove to be inaccurate at times. If your child is older than the prescribed age and does not prefer the use of a rectal or oral thermometer, for them too, forehead thermometers can prove to be useful. 

How to use a Forehead Thermometer

It should be noted that though forehead thermometers can be used for people of all ages, it is most ideal for babies under the age of 3 years as the accuracy for the babies is guaranteed while the accuracy for adults may vary. Buy the Best Forehead Thermometer to get accurate readings.

The forehead thermometer measures the heat waves expelled by the temporal artery of the body. This blood vessel extends across the forehead and can be detected by the temporal or the forehead thermometer.

Follow the below steps to efficiently capture the heatwaves.

1

Step 1 - Swipe the Thermometer

Swipe the thermometer slowly and gently across the forehead of the baby, while the sensor measures the heat waves being expelled from the forehead.

2

Step 2 - Wait for Beep Sound

Once the thermometer registers the heat waves, you will hear a gentle beep or feel a vibration, and this indicates that the temperature has been taken.

3

Step 3 - Note the Color Code 

If the thermometer detects any fever, the color-coding system of the device will let you know. Most forehead thermometer comes with a color configuration of three colors, Green indicates no fever, Orange means mild fever and Red means a high fever.

The orange indication should be a cue for you to take the necessary steps to mitigate the fever. Some forehead thermometers come with the LED feature that allows you to monitor the readings even in pitch darkness. This ensures swift and efficient readings even at night without disturbing the sleep of anyone.

In some forehead thermometers, all you have to do is place the thermometer in front of the forehead and maintain a distance of about 1 inch; the thermometer will take the readings in seconds.

Pros of Forehead Thermometer

Easy to Use

  • This device is infernally easy to use as opposed to other forms of thermometers. Some forehead thermometers require you to bring the device closer to the forehead of the baby and maintain a distance of 1 inch. The device will register the readings in about 2 seconds and display it on the screen. 
  • There are other mechanisms that require you to swipe the device gently across your baby’s forehead, and the device will take the readings. This device does not sustain contact. Yet, there are others that need you to press the probe against the body of the baby. This mechanism ensures that your baby is not disturbed when you want to take his or her temperature. You can also take the readings when they are asleep, and they wouldn’t feel a thing. 

Quick

  • The second advantage of the forehead thermometer is that it takes the readings in a matter of seconds. Most thermometers take only 2 seconds at worst to register the temperature and display it on the screen. 
  • Once the temperature has been registered, it will make a beep sound or would vibrate and alert you of the completion. This ensures that the sound does not wake the baby. Even seconds are essential when the temperature of an ailing baby is being taken, and this thermometer takes that precise need into consideration. 

Cons of Forehead Thermometer

Expensive

  • While the functionality of the forehead thermometer is advanced, and the swiftness is impeccable, it comes with a hefty price tag. Forehead thermometers are one of the most expensive thermometers out there. 
  • Because the manufacturers pride themselves in the impeccability of their product, they charge more than the regular thermometer. The price may vary from brand to brand and from model to model. Thus, you can research a bit and find your ideal choice according to your budget.

Repetitive Readings

  • The temperature of the baby may change due to room temperature, and the factor of how you measure the temperature can also play a role in the varying figures. Chances are, you may not get an accurate number on the first swipe, and the device may demand two or three swipes before you can calculate the average temperature of the baby.
  • However, this is the case with digital thermometers as well, so the problem is not exclusively with the forehead thermometer. All digital thermometers may require you to take multiple readings before reaching a definitive figure.

Heat Sensitive

  • The forehead thermometer is also very sensitive to heat. As I have mentioned, the thermometer also considers the room temperature that affects the temperature of the baby. This can tamper with the temperature readings of the baby and can impact its accuracy. 
  • If the room has an AC, which is switched on at the time the temperature was taken, you will get different results. If the room was warm due to the absence of an AC or fan, and if the baby is sweating, you may different results altogether. 
  • One way of eliminating the impact of this external factor is to measure your own temperature to get a benchmark. It is a little like tasting warm milk yourself before serving it to the baby to ensure that the milk is not too hot for him.

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About the Author

Tim

I am Tim, a weather enthusiast who loves to watch hurricanes and all other harsh weather conditions. I studied B.Sc(Meteorology) at the University of Miami. With excellent knowledge of Weather Forecasting, Meteorology, and Environmental Science, I am currently working in San Francisco as a Meteorologist. Also, I am a member of The Weather Channel and AccuWeather. In this blog, I will write a detailed review of Weather instruments that you need for survival and other activities.