ght, the temperature is at the lowest. That is why
it is important to watch sick people and babies and to put an extra
cover over them at that time.

Any temperature above 100 degrees, if it continues, is serious. A
temperature above 101 degrees is a fairly high one, and 103 degrees or
above is very high.

The temperature is taken with a clinical thermometer placed in the mouth
or in the armpit. For babies, and people who might break the thermometer
if it were placed in the mouth, place the thermometer in the armpit.
Temperatures of babies and very ill people are taken in rectum, but the
Girl Scout should not attempt this. Always wash the thermometer in cold
water before using. Wash in cold water and disinfect by wiping off with
alcohol or ether after using. Hot water will break it. When the
thermometer is being used every day it may be kept in disinfectant.
Never lay down a thermometer that has been used until after it has been
washed and disinfected.

To Take the Temperature in the Mouth

Cleanse the thermometer.

Shake down so that the mercury is below 96 degrees.

Have patient moisten lips.

Place the thermometer with bulb under tongue. Lips must be closed while
holding it.

Hold two or three minutes, in this position.

Be sure that nothing hot or cold has been in the mouth for at least five
minutes before taking temperature.

To Take Temperature in the Armpits

Wipe out armpit.

Insert the thermometer.

Place arm across the chest so that the thermometer is held securely. It
should remain so for four or five minutes.

Pulse

The pulse may be counted on the thumb side of the inside of the wrist,
at the temples, the ankles, and other parts of the body where the
arteries are near the surface.

The pulse shows the number of times per minute which the heart beats or
pumps.

A normal pulse rate for a man is around 72, for a woman 80, for a child
90, and for a baby 100 beats.

A very rapid or a very slow pulse shows that there is something wrong
that should be reported. It takes a good deal of practice to learn to
count the pulse.

Place two or three fingers on the beating artery, just touching firmly
enough to feel the beats, and count for a half minute, then multiply by
two to find the number of beats per minute. Be sure that the patient's
hand is in a comfortable position while counting.

Respiration

Respiration is another word for breathing. An average normal person when
sitting