No matter how old you are or what your relationship status may be, there are certain items that you should have in your home. A fire extinguisher, flashlights, even a few gallons of bottled water are good items to have in case of an emergency.
However, your emergencies are not limited to a need to flee from your house or to shelter in four a time. There are also instances where common issues arise that you need to be prepared for, and having a thermometer is one such example.
Everyone gets sick at some point. You may catch a cold or have the flu, maybe there is a cough or other type of virus going around your work or school. No matter how well you may take care of yourself, there will be come a point where you may contract one of these illnesses. In that case, you want to be prepared.
The First Thing Your GP Will Ask
Should you feel under the weather, the first thing you are likely to do is to contact your general practitioner. He or she is going to ask you a series of questions and one you can be sure you are going to be asked is if you have a fever or what your temperature is. With a quality thermometer, you can answer that question easily. This allows your doctor to have more information on how to provide the proper triage for you before you even get to his or her office.
What you may not have considered is that the more severe your symptoms are, the greater the need for you to be seen by your GP right away. Should you have a fever of 38.9°C or higher, you likely need to see your doctor as soon as possible. Much higher than that and they may send you to the hospital right away.
You may have an idea that you are feeling under the weather and that your temperature is above normal, but that does not give a clear indicator to the general practitioner of exactly what the severity of your fever may be. This can be an invaluable tool in assisting you and your physician in ensuring you are getting the proper care when you need it.
One of Several Items You Need
It is clear that a thermometer is an essential item for any household. However, you should also include some other items as part of your emergency medical kit. Your medical bag should include such things as:
- A first aid kit
- Eyewash
- a splint
- antihistamine
- some form of mild pain reliever
With these simple items, you can be prepared for most issues that may arise with you, your spouse, or your family, should you have one. Kids and adults get scrapes and cuts. They may break a finger or cause an injury to their arm or leg. They may wake up one day with a headache or sore throat. Maybe they get dirt in their eye.
All of these are common conditions that can be treated if you have the proper items available in your home. So, as you are shopping for your thermometer, consider picking up these items as well. This will help to prepare you for many different types of medical emergencies.