Thermometers

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.

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.

Mercury thermometers are the device that many people still think of when they picture a traditional thermometer.

They’re made up of a glass tube with a line of mercury in the centre that moves up or down to show you your temperature.

Digital thermometers are a more recent invention, but they’re far more accurate and are much quicker to use.

We would always recommend using a digital thermometer over a mercury thermometer when taking someone’s temperature.

Mercury thermometers can be more likely to break, causing a risk of injury from glass splinters or exposure to mercury, which is highly poisonous.

Keeping a first aid kit in your car or vehicle is really important in case of an emergency, especially if you spend a lot of time driving.

You should try to keep a full first aid kit in your car, including the essential range of bandages and dressings, creams and medicines, as you never know what you’ll need when the time comes.