A disposable thermometer is one that has a limited use or it can be dispose after being used to measure the temperature. It is a flat plastic with colored dots which show the temperature. It can be used for the young and old. It is usually placed in the mouth or rectum. It is relatively safe because it is non-toxic, flexible and soft to use. It does not contain mercury, latex or glass.

A disposable thermometer is accurate to measure temperature especially that of infants. It can assess accurate temperature within 1 minute. It can be used on the infant to measure temperature up to 48 hours by using a patch form on the infant’s skin. This thermometer uses a dot sensor matrix to measure temperature. The dot changes color at a temperature reading of 0.2 Fahrenheit which is equivalent to 0.1 Centigrade. The body temperature is measured from a numerical scale. Range is 96.0-104.8 Fahrenheit which is equivalent to 35.5-40.4 Centigrade. It is a must that the temperature should be read at once as soon it is indicated by the thermometer.

The disposable thermometer is commonly used in hospitals. It helps reduce contamination and spread of germs. It is also convenient to carry as it is small in size and can be put in a purse, wallet or bag. Each thermometer is packaged and sealed individually and is designed to reduce infection. It also has a feature of extended reading retention time for better reading of temperatures. It also adheres to safety requirements. It does not require use of batteries, no need for storage condition or does not need any adjustment or calibration procedures. You just have to follow basic procedures, use it and then dispose of it.

The disposable thermometer has also found its uses in the kitchen. It can be used to measure temperature of meat and chicken. This temperature indicates if the meat is cooked or not. The disposable thermometer is inserted into the meat and provides the correct temperature if the meat is cooked well. It can also be used for grilling hamburgers to come out with well-cooked ones.

A disposable thermometer is now preferred over the old thermometer. The old thermometer is made of glass and has mercury, a bit slippery and can be broken into pieces if accidentally dropped; while the disposable thermometer is handy and convenient to use and is just as accurate to measure temperature. Most disposable thermometers are now available online, in hospitals, health stores and even groceries especially along the meat section. It is not only a medical tool but it can be considered as a cooking tool, too.

Jonathan Pitts

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