How many minutes does it take to measure under the armpit with a mercury thermometer?
Disease description:
How many minutes does it take to measure under the armpit with a mercury thermometer?
Axillary measurement using a mercury thermometer generally requires 5–10 minutes to ensure accuracy.
Precautions for axillary measurement with a mercury thermometer:
1. Measurement duration: Measuring for too short a time (e.g., less than 5 minutes) may result in inaccurate body temperature, as the mercury column might not have stabilized; measuring for too long (more than 10 minutes) is unnecessary and may increase the risk of forgetting or the thermometer slipping out.
2. Preparation: Before measurement, shake the mercury column down to below 35°C, and ensure the armpit is dry to prevent moisture from affecting the reading.
3. Positioning: Place the mercury tip of the thermometer in the armpit and hold it securely to ensure close contact between the thermometer and the skin.
4. Reading the result: After measurement, hold the mercury thermometer at eye level and slowly rotate it to view the scale lines and the mercury column's position, which indicates the body temperature.