You may have noticed social media posts warning about the risks of non-contact infrared thermometers. These temperature-taking gadgets, which are held up to a person's forehead, are frequently employed in schools and child care facilities. The good news is that the warnings concerning their risk are untrue. Infrared thermometers are very safe tools that can help prevent illness by detecting fever early.
Here is how they work: An infrared beam is sent into the body and bounces off any heat sources it encounters, such as your brain if you were to use one on yourself. This allows the thermometer to create a picture of your body's temperature without touching you. These devices are much safer than traditional thermometers because they cannot contaminate other parts of the body with bacteria that cause fever. They also do not need to be cleaned after each use like glass thermometers do.
There have been some reports of children who have accidentally put these non-contact thermometers too close to an electric heater, but this is rare. Further, there has never been a report of someone being hurt by an infrared thermometer. Overall, these instruments are very safe tools that should not cause concern for health care professionals.
Infrared thermometers are available in drugstores and grocery stores. They usually cost between $20 and $50. Traditional mercury thermometers are more expensive, typically costing $1 per use or less.
Infrared thermometers function by detecting heat radiation released by humans, not the other way around. Using infrared thermometers is not dangerous to the eyes or body, according to Feng Luzhao, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. She says that some people are sensitive to infrared rays, but this sensitivity has nothing to do with how safe they are using infrared thermometers.
The only potential hazard with these instruments is if they are used on someone who is not fully compliant with eye protection requirements. This could happen if an optometrist fails to prescribe proper eye protection or if someone uses infrared thermometry as a substitute for taking vital signs. In these cases, exposure to infrared radiation could cause damage to the retina of the eye.
People who work with infrared thermometers regularly can still see objects with their eyes when they use the instrument. They just cannot see their thermometer screen because it is giving off infrared radiation. This means that you can look at objects while keeping an infrared thermometer pressed against your skin without harming your eyes.
If you are worried about using an infrared thermometer because you think it may be dangerous to your eyes, talk to your doctor about alternative methods. There are many other tools available that can give you accurate body temperature readings, such as oral thermometers and rectal thermometers.
The Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer allows you to take temperatures without making contact with your skin. With the click of a button, this unique, FDA-approved thermometer scans and detects the temperature on the forehead. It provides accurate results within 0.5 degrees F even in the coldest conditions.
This thermometer has been designed for use in the medical industry and by health care professionals. It is not intended for use by consumers to check their own body temperature.
Although it does not require any contact with the body, this thermometer should be cleaned after each use with water and a soft brush to prevent contamination and maintain its accuracy.
This non-contact infrared thermometer comes with a one-year warranty.
It measures body temperature by detecting heat radiation in the infrared spectrum, which is beyond the visible light range. Because there is no need to touch the subject being tested, this method is considered non-intrusive.
In addition to medical uses, this device can be used in scientific experiments as a non-contact thermometer because it provides reliable results even in cold conditions.
Examples include using the thermometer to measure the change in body temperature due to exercise, diet, or medication intake.
Infrared or no-contact thermometers are just as accurate as oral or rectal thermometers when used appropriately, according to research. However, with many places now demanding temperature checks, these hand-held thermometers are proving to be safe, rapid, and accurate, while also aiding in the reduction of coronavirus spread. Oral and rectal thermometers need to be kept clean by washing them with soap and water after each use.
In addition to health care professionals, parents can use infrared thermometers to check their children's temperatures. These devices work by measuring the temperature of an object (such as the tip of a child's nose or back of the hand) through its own heat signature. This method does not involve touching the child directly, which can lead to transmission of bacteria from one person to another. Infrared thermometers can be found at drugstores and grocery stores for $20-$100; they work by channeling infrared energy emitted by your body into a sensor that displays your temperature. You can use this information to guide treatment decisions during a fever.
Parents should check their children's temperatures regularly, especially if they have a history of fevers. Using an infrared thermometer allows for rapid, noninvasive testing without putting anyone at risk of infection.
Children with elevated temperatures may experience other symptoms, such as headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and muscle aches.