The experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, dry cough, and fever (or an elevated body temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit or more).
As the “Stay at Home” orders are relaxing across the state of Indiana, more and more Hoosiers are returning to work and starting to go out again. Safety and vigilance are vital for keeping our community as healthy as possible and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Learn more about OUR HOSPITAL’s reopening plans
In addition to following other recommended infection-control guidelines (including regular hand washing, mask-wearing, and social distancing) during each new phase of the reopening, make taking the time to monitor your body temperature a part of your daily routine. Read on to get tips for monitoring your body temperature.
Limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace: Many employers are using body temperature checks as part of their start-of-the-workday routine to help identify anyone with a fever who may be contagious and possibly be infected with the novel coronavirus.
How to check your body temperature accurately
When you’re healthy and feeling well, your body does an excellent job of regulating your body temperature and keeping it in a safe range.
On the other hand, when something is wrong, your body’s temperature rises. This elevated body temperature might be due to infection, trauma/injury, heatstroke, medications, hormone fluctuations, or even as a result of other medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, cancer, and arthritis.
Depending on the capabilities of your thermometer, you can measure your body temperature in your mouth, armpit, ear, forehead, or rectum. The latter is the most accurate way to get a body temperature reading.
What kind of thermometer should you buy?
If you don’t have a thermometer already, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a fancy one to measure your body temperature. Get a simple, under-the-tongue, digital version. They do the trick and (typically) cost less than $10.
Step 1: Establish your baseline body temperature
Although many of us were taught growing up that the average human temperature is 98.6° Fahrenheit, everyone is different. Your body temperature is based on a variety of factors, such as weight, gender, age, height, and more.
Don’t worry about the number. There is no universally perfect body temperature. Right now, while you feel well, take your temperature a few times throughout the day for a few days in a row to get a ballpark idea of your typical body temperature.
Over 24 hours, you might find a body temperature fluctuation of as much of one degree. For most people, their body temperature readings will be lower in the morning than during the afternoon or evening.
Step 2: Get ready to take your body temperature
There are many different factors—including the weather outside!—can affect the reading you get when you take your body temperature, some of which you can control.
For instance, if you’re using an oral thermometer, be sure to wait about a half-hour after you eat, drink, smoke, exercise, or take a hot shower to make sure you get as accurate a reading as possible when taking your temperature.
Step 3: Prepare for the next time you need to take a reading
You’re not done just yet. It’s forget to properly clean your thermometer before you use it, so to stop the spread of germs you should clean it with soapy water or use sterilizing alcohol before putting it away.
Feeling unwell?
There are several testing options here at Logansport Memorial Hospital if you suspect that you’ve been exposed to someone with coronavirus or if you have been experiencing symptoms of COVID-19:
- If you are an existing patient: Please call your provider’s office and ask for a test. Search our physicians’ directory if you need the phone number for your doctor.
- If you new patient: Please visit Express Medical Center at Cass Plaza during normal business hours and request COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 testing is also available from the Indiana State Department of Health at the Farmer’s Market Lot on 4th Street as well as at Logansport’s Walmart at 240 Mall Road. Note: pre-registration is required for COVID-19 testing at these alternative testing locations.