1. Temperatures

2. Vital Signs
Various determinations that provide information about the basic body conditions of the patient.
Four main vital signs: temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.

3. Other important vital signs…
That provide information about the patient’s condition include the color of the skin, the size of the pupils in the eyes and their reaction to light, the level of consciousness, and the patient's response to stimuli.

4. Health assistants may have responsibility of measuring and recording vital signs.
Not in realm of duties to reveal this information to the patient
Physician will decide if this information should be told to patient.

5. Accuracy Is Essential
Abnormal vital signs are often the first indication of a disease or abnormality.

6. Accuracy Is Essential Never guess or report an inaccurate reading.
If you note any abnormality or change in a vital sign, report it immediately to your supervisor.

7. If you have difficulty obtaining a correct reading for any vital sign, ask another individual to check the reading.

8. Temperature
Measurement of the balance between heat lost and heat produced in the body

9. Heat is lost through perspiration, respiration and excretion (urine and feces).
Heat is produced by metabolism of food and muscle and gland activity.

10. Homeostasis Constant state of fluid balance.
Ideal health state in the human body.

11. Homeostasis
Rate of chemical reactions in body is regulated by the temperature.
If temperature is too high or too low, body’s fluid balance is also affected.

12. Variations in Body Temperature
Normal range for body temperature is 97 degrees F to 100 degrees F.
Variations caused by individual differences, time of day, part of body and other factors.

13. Time of Day Affects Body Temperature
Usually lower in morning after body has rested.
Higher in evening after muscular activity and food intake with metabolism.

14. Parts of Body Where Temperature Is Measured Leads to Variations.
Oral temperature: measured in mouth
Clinical thermometer left in place 3- 5 minutes
Normal oral temperature in 98.6 degrees F
Range
Most common, convenient and comfortable method

15. Rectal Temperature Measured in rectum
Clinical thermometer held in place 3-5 minutes
Normal rectal temperature is 99.6 to f
Most accurate because it is an internal measurement

16. Axillary or groin temperature
Axillary is taken in armpit while upper arm is held close to body and thermometer is inserted between two folds of skin
Groin is taken between two folds of skin formed by the inner part of the thigh and lower abdomen

17. Axillary or Groin Temperature
Clinical thermometer is held in place 10 minutes.
Normal is 97.6*F.
Range: *F.
Both types are less accurate because they are external temperatures.

18. Aural Temperature
Taken with special thermometer that is placed in the ear or auditory canal
Thermometer detects and measures the thermal, infrared energy radiating from blood vessels in the tympanic membrane or eardrum.

19. Aural Temperature
Since this provides a measurement of body core temperature, there is no normal range for aural

20. Most tympanic thermometers will record the temperature in less than 2 seconds.

21. Factors Causing an Increase in Body Temperature
Illness and infection
Exercise
High temperatures in the environment

22. Factors Causing a Decrease in Body Temperature
Starvation or fasting
Sleep
Decrease muscle activity
Mouth breathing
Cold temperatures in the environment

23. Abnormal Conditions
Hypothermia
Fever
Hyperthermia

24. Hypothermia Low body temperature below 95*F (35*C) rectally
Can be caused by prolonged exposure to the cold
Death usually occurs if temperature drops below 93*F (33.9*C) for a period of time

25. Fever
Elevated body temperature
Usually above 101*F (38.3*) rectally
Usually caused by infection or injury

26. Hyperthermia Body temperature exceeds 104* F (40*C) rectally
Can be caused by prolonged exposure to hot temperatures, brain damage, or serious infection
Immediate actions must be taken to lower temperature
Temperatures above 106*F (41.1*C) can quickly lead to convulsions and death

27. Clinical thermometers
Glass thermometers used to record temperature
Consists of a slender glass tube containing mercury, which expands when exposed to heat

28. Oral thermometer Has a long, SLENDER BULB AND/OR BLUE TIP
Security oral thermometer has a shorter, rounder bulb and may be marked with a blue tip

29. Rectal thermometer
Has a short, stubby, rounded bulb, and may be marked with a red tip
Some have word oral or rectal written on the stem

30. If clinical thermometer breaks,
the mercury can evaporate and create a toxic vapor that can harm both humans and the environment

31. Electronic thermometers
Used in many facilities
Register the temperature on a viewer in a few seconds
Used to take oral, rectal, axillary, and/or groin temperatures
Blue probes for oral use
Red probes for axillary or rectal use

32. Prevent cross contamination from patient to patient
Disposable cover is placed over thermometer probe before temperature is taken
Change disposable covers after each use

33. Electronic digital thermometers are excellent for home use
Eliminates the hazard of a mercury spill
Small battery operated unit usually will register the temperature in about 60 seconds on a digital display screen
Disposable probe covers prevent contamination of the probe

34. Tympanic Thermometers
Specialized electronic thermometers
Records aural temp in the ear
Disposable cover is placed on the ear probe
Probe is inserted into the auditory canal, and a scan button is pushed

35. Plastic or paper thermometers
Used in some facilities
Contain special chemical dots or strips
Change color when exposed to specific temperatures
Used once and discarded

36. Reading a glass clinical thermometer
Hold it at eye level and find the solid column of mercury
Read at the point where the mercury line ends
Each long line represents 1 degree
Exception at times is long line for 98.6*F

37. Reading a glass clinical thermometer
98.6*F represents normal oral body temperature
Each short line represents 0.2 degrees (two-tenths)
Temperature recorded to nearest tow-tenths of a degree

38. Recording temperature
If temperature is taken orally, not necessary to indicate an oral reading
For rectal temperature, Place a (R) by the reading
For axillary temperature, place an (Ax) by the reading

39. Recording temperature
For groin temperature, place a (Gr) by the reading
For aural temperature, place a (T) for tympanic by the reading

40. Avoid factors that could alter or change temperature
Eating, drinking hot or cold liquids and/or smoking can alter the temperature in the mouth
Ask before checking the patient’s temp, if the patient has done any of these things , wait 15 minutes before checking temperature

41. Cleaning thermometers
Glass clinical thermometers
Must be cleaned thoroughly after use
Follow agency procedure
Wipe with soapy cotton ball or gauze pad after use
Rinse in cool water to prevent breakage and to avoid destroying column of mercury

42. Shake the thermometer down to 96*F
Hold securely between thumb and index finger
Use a snapping motion of the wrist
Avoid countertops, tables, and so forth
Soak in a disinfectant (frequently 70 % alcohol) for a minimum of 30 minutes

43. Paper/plastic sheath on glass thermometer
Used to cover thermometer while temperature is taken
Discarded after use
Thermometer remains clean because there is no contact with patient
Many agencies still soak in disinfectants between use.

44. Electronic and tympanic thermometers
Probe covered with plastic sheath
Plastic sheath discarded after each use
No contamination of probe
Follow agency policy for cleaning and care of thermometers