LIFETEMP THERMOMETERS

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LIFETEMP THERMOMETERS
Training and Development Intermediate Training
for Sales Staff

• Training Objectives
• To provide an understanding of body temperature
  and its relationship to good health.
• To discuss various temperature taking sites and
  the advantage of each.
• To introduce and demonstrate the LifeTemp range
  of thermometry products.

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What is Temperature?
Temperature is that property of an object which
determines the sensation of warmth or coldness
felt from contact with it. Thermometry is the
understanding of how heat is measured. All
objects, including the body, emit heat. This heat
is measured with a sensitive device that can
register and record. Objects transfer heat in
four ways evaporation, convection, conduction
and radiation the latter two are used in
monitoring body temperatures. For example, a
glass clinical thermometer is put under the
tongue and allowed to reach thermal equilibrium
in the mouth. Due to conduction, heat passes from
the body and into the thermometers tip to form a
measurement by allowing us to see how much the
mercury has expanded in the stem and hence
reading the scale of the thermometer to find the
temperature.
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Temperature And Its Relationship To Health
Although body temperature undergoes minor
variations during the course of a person's
lifetime, the body's systems maintain a range
best suited for bodily functions to occur. Good
health is therefore associated with a range of
normal body temperatures. Conversely, elevated
temperatures are associated with illness or poor
body functioning. Factors Affecting Body
Temperature Normal body temperature is NOT 37oC
but rather an individual specific range. Common
factors influencing body temperature are the
measurement site, age and gender. Body
temperature can be altered by external factors
including exposure to weather extremes and by
internal factors such as circadian rhythms,
hormonal changes or infection. Temperature
Assessment Sites Temperature varies
according to the particular site where the
temperature is measured. Temperature ranges for
the ear, mouth, rectum and anxilla as illustrated
in the table.
12 different body sites exist where temperature
can be measured. There is no "best" place to
measure temperature, because each body site has a
temperature that varies from other body sites.
The choice of site depends on what needs to be
known. Preferred sites need to be reliable and
accessible.
Note Temperatures from different body sites
cannot be directly compared. Each site reacts
differently to changes in body temperature
exhibiting variations due to its proximity to the
bodys core and its external exposure.

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Temperature And Its Relationship To Health

• Temperature Regulation Within The Body
• Thermo-regulatory mechanisms within the body,
  fluctuate constantly to balance heat lost and
  produced. The main regulators of this fluctuation
  are the hypothalamus and the central nervous
  system. Thermo-sensory impulses from the skin
  and internal receptors trigger the hypothalamus
  to raise or lower body temperature to maintain a
  constant core temperature for the heart, brain
  and other vital organs of 36C to 38 C.
• Core temperature is the most reliable indicator
  of the body's condition, but accessing it is
  difficult. Temperatures taken at more accessible
  sites such as the mouth, forehead, maxilla or
  rectum are clinically significant only in terms
  of how closely they correlate to core
  temperature.
• Fever
• Fever occurs when the body detects in the blood
  the presence of small molecules known as
  "pyrogens". Pyrogens are produced by cells of the
  immune system in reaction to either bacteria,
  viruses or toxic substances.
• Pyrogens disturb the regulation of body
  temperature, resulting in its elevation. When
  pyrogen levels decrease, heat loss mechanisms are
  no longer suppressed and fever falls. Fever is
  therefore seen as direct evidence of the presence
  of an infection.

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Measuring Temperature In The Mouth

• The most common site for measuring temperature is
  in the mouth. Poor technique however can produce
  inaccurate readings, as detailed below.
• As oral temperature is lower than core
  temperature by about 0.5C the correct placement
  of the thermometer is essential, misplacement
  changing the temperature reading by up to 0.9C.
  Correct probe placement should be under the
  tongue as near as possible to the heat pocket,
  as shown in the diagram
• Other possible causes of inaccurate oral readings
  include
• Removing the thermometer too soon.

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Measuring Temperature In The Rectum
Rectal temperatures were long considered the
"gold standard" for measuring core temperature,
especially in children. Despite discomfort and
embarrassment, the site is easily accessible and
provides an accurate reading when taken properly.
Readings are usually quite close to core
temperature, being on average 0.1C higher.
Rectal thermometry also has some drawbacks. As
the rectum is a cavity, it can retain heat longer
than other sites. When a patient's temperature is
rising or falling rapidly, the temperature in the
rectum can lag behind by up to an hour because
the rectum contains no thermo-receptors and thus
is heated or cooled as an effect of hypothalamic
control, rather than in response to it.
Accurate rectal temperatures require proper
depth of insertion and dwell time for adults,
it's 4cm to 5cm and for children, 1.25cm to 3cm
depending on age. Due to the risk of perforation,
the rectum isn't used in neonates. Proper dwell
time is the same for all patients 3 to 5
minutes. What kind of thermometer is used to
take a rectal temperature? A digital
thermometer is used to take a rectal temperature.
Carefully read the instructions before using your
digital thermometer. Clinical thermometers may
also be used to check a rectal temperature. Be
sure to stay with your child while taking a
rectal temperature with a glass thermometer.
Infants and children may move suddenly and break
the thermometer. You may need to hold the
thermometer in place for several minutes in order
to get a correct reading.
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How to Measure Rectal Temperature
For Digital Thermometers Slide a probe cover
over the pointed end of the thermometer. If your
thermometer did not come with a probe cover then
you can use it without one. Lubricate the end of
the probe. Place your child on his stomach
across a firm surface or your lap before taking
his temperature.Gently slide the probe of the
thermometer into the rectum about a 1.5cm. Stop
inserting the thermometer if it becomes difficult
to insert. Never force the thermometer into the
rectum. Keep the thermometer in place until it
beeps. Remove the thermometer and record the
temperature. If you used a
probe cover, remove it and throw it away. Wash
the probe of the thermometer with soap and cold
water and then wipe it with rubbing alcohol when
you are done. For Clinical Thermometers Hold
the thermometer by the end opposite the red,
blue, or silver-colored bulb and shake it
downward several times until it reads less than
35O C. Lubricate the bulb end. Place your
child on his stomach across a firm surface or
your lap and gently spread the buttocks. Place
the lubricated end into the rectum to a depth of
about 2cm. Stop inserting the thermometer if it
becomes difficult to insert and never force the
thermometer into the rectum.Hold the
thermometer between the second and third fingers
with your hand cupped over the child's buttocks.
Continue to hold the thermometer in place while
taking his temperature. Always stay with your
child while taking his temperature to avoid any
sudden movements which may break the thermometer.
Keep the thermometer in place for 3 minutes and
hence remove it without touching the bulb. Hold
the thermometer at eye level and turn it until
the red, blue, or silver line becomes visible.
Read and record the temperature. Clean the
thermometer with soap and cool water then wipe it
with rubbing alcohol.
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Temperature Sites - The Axilla and Groin

• When oral and rectal sites are inappropriate, the
  axilla or groin may be used. Clinical or
  electronic thermometers are appropriate to take
  children's temperatures at the axilla, but this
  site may not be reliable or accurate enough to
  use with adults. For both populations, inherent
  drawbacks to measuring at these sites include
• Skin contact with clinical thermometer must be
  maintained at the apex of the axilla for 8 to 11
  minutes and for 3 to 4 minutes when using digital
  thermometers.
• The resulting reading can be 0.5 to 1.2C lower
  than core temperature.
• The site doesn't reflect temperature
  fluctuations as well as other sites.
• The site and nearby areas are at risk for
  exposure to surrounding air.
• Peripheral vasoconstriction in the elderly or as
  occurs in shock causes the under estimation of
  the bodys temperature.
• For these reasons axillary or groin temperatures
  are, at best, estimates and not always reliable
  enough to provide the basis for clinical
  intervention.

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Temperature Sites - The Ear

• The ear, specifically the tympanic membrane,
  provides noninvasive access to the most accurate
  temperature site in the body, the hypothalamus.
  This is because
• The hypothalamus and the tympanic membrane both
  receive their blood supply from the internal
  carotid arteries.
• The temperature of the tympanic membrane is
  relatively well protected from the influence of
  ambient temperatures and is unaffected by
  respiration, eating, drinking or smoking
• Both ears are equally suitable to perform
  temperature measurements.
• Due these factors, tympanic membrane provides
  both a constant source of hypothalamic
  temperature and the first accessible tissue to
  signal any change in that temperature.
• The infrared ear thermometer senses and measures
  the radiant heat this membrane emits without
  touching it, providing a core temperature reading
  quickly, accurately and non-invasively.
  Cross-contamination is unlikely, because the ear
  has no mucous membranes.

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Ear Thermometers- LifeTemp and LifeTemp Medic
With older models, user technique is important in
obtaining accurate readings as the ear
thermometer will display the temperature of
whatever it is directed at. Newer models,
emitting a much larger number of infrared scans
per second, greatly diminishing the influence of
user technique and pina manipulation. Accurate
readings depend on keeping the probe tip clean.
This may be done by using a fresh probe cover for
each reading or cleaning the tip with an alcohol
swab after use depending on the style of ear
thermometer chosen. Before repeating readings
with any ear thermometer, let 1 minute elapse for
the ear canal to regain its normal temperature
after contact with the cool probe. Most ear
thermometers have alarms that alert the user if
fever is present or if new batteries are
needed. Otitis media will not alter readings nor
will normal amounts of earwax although impacted
cerumen, can lower readings by 0.3C .
cross-contamination is unlikely, because the ear
has no mucous membranes
Keep ear thermometers away from extreme heat ( gt
35C ) or cold ( lt 15.6C ) conditions.
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The LifeTemp Ear Thermometer

• Features
• The LifeTemp Ear Thermometer contains electronic
  sensors that emit 512 scanning sequences per
  second to ensure fast, accurate and reliable
  readings within a deviation of 0.2oC.
• The thermometer probe features a waterproof lens
  which can be rinsed under cold water. Thorough
  cleaning and disinfection of the probe can be
  achieved with alcohol wipes, eliminating the need
  for probe covers.
• The thermometer auto turns off after 60 seconds,
  to ensure a long battery life.
• Fever alarm.
• Approx 5,000 temperature readings before battery
  replacement is required.

cross-contamination is unlikely, because the ear
has no mucous membranes
DO NOT use ear thermometers to take oral,
underarm or rectal temperature.
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The LifeTemp Medic Ear Thermometer

• Features
• The LifeTemp Medic Ear thermometer utilises
  advanced infrared and ambient temperature
  compensation technology. This provides the
  thermometer with the functional self-diagnoses
  software essential for consistently accurate
  temperature measurements.
• Easy switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius
  Temperature Scales
• Memory function
• Fever alarm.
• Approx 3,000 temperature readings before battery
  replacement is required.
• Automatically powers off after 60 seconds of
  idling.
• The battery compartment is easy to access with no
  need of tools to change battery.

cross-contamination is unlikely, because the ear
has no mucous membranes
Keep ear thermometers away from extreme hot ( gt
35C ) or cold (lt 15.6C) conditions.
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LifeTemp Medic - Instructions For Use
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Warranty And Service

• Warranty
• Airssential provide full service facilities for
  their equipment. Our thermometers are warranted
  as specified on each model and warranty issues
  can be followed up Toll Free on 1-800-026-426.
• Warranty excludes cases of misuse or accidental
  damage to the product and does not cover the
  freight to the service facility.
• Validity
• The warranty is only valid if registered within
  10 days of purchase or a warranty request is
  accompanied by a receipt showing the purchase
  date.
• Service requests should be forwarded accompanied
  by the customers details and a description of
  the problem.