The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Using A Forehead Thermometer

Having the right tools at home to combat the flu or a cold is the first step. The next step is checking your temperature. Easier said than done. The most crucial parts of this step are most often overlooked, resulting in inaccurate temperatures. And inaccurate temperatures? Ain’t nobody got time for that! 

Here are the 5 biggest mistakes people make when using a forehead thermometer and how to avoid them:

• Skipping the instructions and going straight to the temperature measurement part
  I know. Going through a booklet with such a tiny font you need a magnifying glass is a tedious chore. And nobody will know when you skip it, right? Wrong! Incorrect usage of a thermometer is one of the biggest reasons for inaccurate results. 
  
  Avoid this mistake by…  
  Always reading the instructions. These will form the guideline you need to measuring the temperature correctly. Most of iProven’s thermometers include a Quick Start Guide. It’s the short version of the full-length instruction and includes everything you need to know to check the temperature of your kid quickly and accurately.
  
  
• Checking the temperature without cleaning the lens first
  The lens of the thermometer is sensitive and reacts not only to changes in temperature but also to dirt or grease. It clogs up the lens and gives you incorrect results. The lens is quite small, so it’s easy to get dirty even when it’s not visible to the naked eye. 
  
  Avoid this mistake by…
  Cleaning the lens before and after every use. Not only will a clean thermometer give much more reliable temperatures, it is also much more hygienic. Clean your thermometer with soapy water or use a clean cloth and rubbing alcohol.
  
  
• Using the thermometer in a warm room while it’s been stored in a colder room
  Without letting the thermometer adjust for 30 minutes to the temperature before using will give you skewed results. Taking the thermometer from the bathroom where you store it to the bedroom where you check baby’s temp is quite an adjustment! Differences in ambient temperature will give you inaccurate results.
  
  Avoid this mistake by…
  Letting the thermometer adjust before using it. Leave it in the room where you’re going to check the temperature of your child. Let it rest for 30 minutes and you won’t have to doubt its accuracy. 
  
  
• Instead of swiping the thermometer across the forehead only holding it against the forehead
  Forehead thermometers are precision-engineered to work according to one of two systems: Swiping across the forehead or holding it to the forehead. Using your thermometer according to the way it’s manufactured will give you the best results. 
  
  Avoid this mistake by... 
  Reading the instructions. What do the instructions say about checking the temperature? Swipe or hold? iProven’s DMT thermometers are designed to swipe across the forehead. Using the thermometer this way makes sure the temperatures are reliable. 
  
  
• Not reading the troubleshooting section of the instructions when the thermometer gives an absurd temperature
  Sometimes absurd temperatures just appear on the display. No matter what you did. Inaccurate results can be caused by all kinds of things. Empty batteries, for example. The instructions will have a separate section for the most common problems. 
  
  Avoid this mistake by…
  Repeating the measurement. Take the thermometer and try again. Do you still get an unlikely result? Read the instructions or contact the brand. iProven’s Customer Service is available daily to answer your questions! Contact us here.