Swine Flu Information
Flu Friends
Swine flu may become a pandemic in the UK over the
coming months, so now is the time to choose your ‘flu
friend’. The national swine flu information leaflet that
was delivered to households across the county in May
makes reference to people setting up a network of flu
friends.
CLICK HERE to read more on flu friends
CLICK HERE to download a flu friends form
A persistent
complaint among doctors fielding panicked phone calls
about swine flu is that patients have often failed to
take their temperatures before dialling. Here are some
tips on how to do it properly.
A temperature above 38C suggests an infection — though
swine flu is only one of many possible causes. Ideally,
take two separate readings 20 minutes apart, and check
that the thermometer is clean.
An old-fashioned mercury thermometer is fine for use by
adults but not by children (who might bite the glass and
ingest mercury, which is poisonous). It should be shaken
before use.
Digital thermometers can be used in the mouth (under the
tongue for two or three minutes) or, less preferably,
under the arm (which might be easier for a child).
An armpit reading can be obtained by placing the
thermometer against the skin under the arm and holding
the arm against the chest. It can take as long as five
minutes. The reading will be slightly lower than the
body’s core temperature — so add 0.5C.
If placing it under the tongue, don’t do it just after
eating something hot or cold; wait ten minutes and then
take a reading.
Thermometer strips, which are held against the forehead,
measure skin temperature and are relatively crude. They
should be held in place — fingers away from the
temperature-sensitive panels — for two to three minutes.
Ear thermometers are very accurate but expensive. Read
the instructions to find out how long a reading will
take. If a person has been lying down or been outside,
wait 15 minutes for body temperature to stabilise before
doing the reading.
