What Do You Know About Thermometers?

We have probably all had our temperatures taken at one time or another.  Whether the method was under the arm, under the tongue, up the bum or in the ear, it is the first thing a doctor or a worried mom does to figure out what is going on in our body.  But aside from protocol, what do you really know about thermometers?  Check out some cool and interesting facts about thermometers.  Read on…

Did You Know…?

…in 170 A.D. a Greek scientist (and doctor) by the name of, Galen, was the first person to try an attempt at measuring temperature?

…the “thermoscope” was the first invention used to measure heat and cold?  It was basically a thermometer without a scale.

…glass thermometers contain mercury which when heated changes from a solid to a liquid?  This is how it is able to climb up the thermometer when a fever is present.

…digital thermometers use computers chips to read temperatures?

…Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first temperature scale in 1714?  This is where we get the Fahrenheit measurement from.

A New Age of Thermometers

Thermometers have come a long way since the 1700’s.  Today we have digital thermometers that, not only go under the tongue, but can read your temperature through the ear canal.  These are a vast improvement on the accuracy and speed of the old-fashioned glass thermometers.  However, technology has taken another leap forward into the temperature-taking world and has come up with the forehead thermometer.  This handy little device is even better than the digital or tympanic.

How It Works

The forehead thermometer measures the infrared energy being emitted from a person’s forehead.  It then takes this energy and focuses it through a specialized lense where it is converted to a digital number.  Simply put, you press the button, scan the forehead about 1 to 6 centimeters above and wait for the reading.  If your patient has a fever, the thermometer will have a red glow and will make seven short rapid beeps.  If the temperature is normal, a steady ring will sound and the thermometer will be backlit in green.  It’s as simple as that!

In addition, the forehead thermometer also has a “milk-mode” button.  With a flick of the switch you can set up this thermometer to scan the temperature of milk in a bottle.  No more guessing and worrying about whether it is too hot or too cold for your child.

The forehead thermometer is perfect for babies, children, the elderly or anyone that has a fever.  The fact that it never makes any contact with the skin makes it ideal for busy households, daycares, schools or nursing homes.

Thank goodness we had inventors that put us on the path to the thermometer.  Without these early inventions we would never be where we are today with the convenience and accuracy of the forehead thermometer.