Couldn't they check by touching the arm, etc.?
2006-08-18 04:49:46 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
My thoughts. Because it is a central place on the body, it is not coverd by clothes so it is easily accessible and its also at an easy height for an adult to reach.
2006-08-18 04:51:00 · answer #1 · answered by Oz 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An arm, or other part of the body has more flesh. When checking for a fever you want core body temperature which you wouldn't get from limbs, and the actual core of the body is usually clothed so you would get an inaccurate "reading". That said, I don't believe touching the forehead is very accurate because its all relative heat to the parents' hand (a hand might be calloused, or delicate, recently washing dishes or filling the freezer).
2006-08-18 04:58:05 · answer #2 · answered by nicholas_fahrenkopf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The area right in between the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body of anywhere you'd want to put your hand...so it's warmer and shows a better idea of what the central body temperature is.
2006-08-18 05:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by spuget 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Forehead and neck are more accurate in temperature than extremities like arms and legs. Similarly stomach and chest can be warm due to clothing.
2006-08-18 04:55:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cuz that's what you always see on TV and in movies.
The best place to check is the back of their neck. If that feels unusually warm, check with a thermometer and take the appropriate action.
2006-08-18 04:55:11 · answer #5 · answered by Echelon Right 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Beacuse heat escapes through the head.
2006-08-18 04:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by ImSpoilednLoveit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the head has the largest surface-to-body area: it'll be the warmest area of the whole body
2006-08-18 04:54:50 · answer #7 · answered by KingRichard 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cuz the skin there is thinner?
2006-08-18 04:54:26 · answer #8 · answered by WendyD1999 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋