Meters, Monitors & Devices

Keeping a thermometer in your first aid kit is helpful for identifying a fever (high body temperature).

Digital thermometers are the most accurate way of testing body temperature.

You can place a basic digital thermometer under your armpit to get a reading, but for the most accurate reading, you should hold it under your tongue for several minutes.

Another option is a digital in-ear thermometer, which can produce a result within just a few seconds.

If your baby feels hotter than usual on their forehead, back or stomach, or they’re feeling sweaty or clammy with flushed cheeks, you may need to check their temperature.

The NHS recommends using a basic digital thermometer and placing it under their armpit for about 15 seconds, or for however long it says in the manufacturer’s instructions.

This is the recommended way to take a child’s temperature until they’re 5 years old.

A blood pressure check is a routine part of many doctor's appointments, but some people may need to be tested more often due to certain risk factors.

People who have certain health conditions, particularly hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart disease, will find it beneficial to keep a blood pressure monitor at home so they can test themselves regularly.

Your blood pressure reading will show a top number and a bottom number.

The top number is your systolic blood pressure, the highest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart beats and pumps blood around your body.

The bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure, the lowest level your blood pressure reaches as your heart relaxes between each beat.

Your reading will be measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) - the ideal blood pressure reading is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.