Forehead Thermometers - Beats The Hand On The Head Tactic

Each autumn (or fall) is happens, kids come home from school complaining of a sore throat or telling their mother “I don’t feel good.” The first thing a caring mother does is place one of the many forehead thermometers on the market, against the child’s head to confirm. Following the thermometer check, she invariably places the palm of her hand against the child’s forehead, seemingly confirming the thermometer’s reading. It doesn’t matter which country or which nationality, all mothers use their hand to estimate a child’s body temperature. It is as if, mother’s think they know better than the machine. Indeed a forehead thermometer for many mothers is not as reliable as the palm of a hand. So, we’ve established that the child is sick and with that confirmed, a mother will send him or her off to bed. A couple of hours later, the forehead is again checked using different forehead thermometers, and again by her palm. This scene is repeated until the child is well and wants to go outside and ride his or her bicycle.

Vicks, the famous vapor-rub company, has added its own thermometer to the many forehead thermometers already retailing. According to the company this thermometer is clinically proven and the technology used in creating such an instrument, is of high, professional quality. Believed to be easy to use and instantly able to give accurate readings of a child’s body temperature, The Vicks thermometer has received mixed reviews. Most reviewers state that although the instrument is easy to use, it does not, however, give constant accurate readings. This was a common claim and perhaps what is claimed is true. I’m sure makes of forehead thermometers around the world have complaints of accuracy readings all the time and although they, no doubt, try to produce instruments that will give clear concise information, it is probably not possible. The best any parent can really hope for is to know that the child’s temperature is either high or normal.

I also think expecting an instrument like this to give perfect readings is ridiculous. Forehead thermometers like the Vicks thermometer are only designed to act as a “guide” for parents. This would be true also for the Beurer FT60 series of forehead thermometers. These instruments are also easy to use and after holding the instrument against the forehead for a few seconds, a lamp with indicate whether the body temperature is high or low. Red, apparently means the body temperature is high, green means go outside and play. There are pros and cons for all makes of thermometer and acquiring the perfect item is an impossibility.