Health devices at home
You can check how the body is doing with three simple tools.
- Thermometer measures body temperature. Normal is about 36.1 to 37.2 °C (97 to 99 °F). A fever is 38 °C or more. Digital thermometers go under the arm or in the ear. Wait for the beep. Clean it after use.
- Blood-pressure (BP) monitor has a cuff on the upper arm. It gives two numbers in mmHg: the top (systolic, when the heart pushes) and the bottom (diastolic, when it rests). About 120/80 is normal. Sit quietly for 5 minutes first. A reading of 140/90 or more, again and again, needs a doctor.
- Pulse is the number of heartbeats in a minute. Press two fingers on the wrist, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Adults at rest: 60 to 100.
Other helpful devices: a pulse oximeter (oxygen in blood, normal 95 % or more), a glucometer for people with diabetes and a weighing scale. Devices help you notice a problem; they do not replace a doctor.
When to call a doctor
Call for help when: fever stays above 38 °C for more than 2 days (sooner for a baby), BP is very high with headache or chest pain, breathing is hard, or the person is confused. In an emergency call the national number (112 in India, 108 for ambulance).
Home safety: find the hazards
A hazard is anything that can hurt someone. Walk through each room and look.
- Bathroom: wet floor causes slips. Use a non-slip mat and a hand rail.
- Kitchen: turn pan handles inward, keep children away from the stove, switch the gas off at night and keep a lid or fire blanket near.
- Electricity: cover unused sockets, do not overload one plug, never touch switches with wet hands, fix loose wires.
- Medicines and chemicals: keep them high or locked, in original bottles with labels. Never store cleaners in cold-drink bottles.
- Stairs and floors: good light, rails, no loose rugs.
Fix it: make a safety plan
Make a short routine: Spot → Fix → Check. Keep a first-aid box with bandages, antiseptic, gauze, tape, scissors, a thermometer, gloves and basic medicines (check the date every 6 months). Stick emergency numbers near the phone. Practise what to do in a fire: get out, stay out, call for help. Keep a smoke alarm or fire extinguisher if you can.
Try it: the 10-minute home check
Take a paper and walk through your home for 10 minutes. Write one hazard per room and its fix. Then take a family member's pulse: count beats in 15 seconds, multiply by 4. Compare with the normal range.
Key formulas and definitions
- Normal body temperature: about 36.1–37.2 °C; fever: 38 °C or more
- °C = (°F − 32) × 5 ÷ 9
- Normal blood pressure: about 120/80 mmHg
- Pulse per minute = beats in 15 s × 4 (adult rest: 60–100)
- Safety routine: Spot → Fix → Check
Worked examples
1. A child's thermometer shows 38.6 °C. Is this normal?
No. It is above 38 °C, so it is a fever. Rest, drink fluids and see a doctor if it lasts more than 2 days.
2. Convert 101.3 °F to °C.
(101.3 − 32) × 5 ÷ 9 = 69.3 × 5 ÷ 9 = 38.5 °C. It is a fever.
3. You count 19 heartbeats in 15 seconds. What is the pulse rate?
19 × 4 = 76 beats per minute. This is in the normal range of 60 to 100.
4. A BP reading is 150/95 on three different days. What should you do?
The readings are above 140/90 again and again. Do not ignore it: see a doctor.
5. List one hazard in a kitchen and its fix.
Hazard: pan handle sticking out. Fix: turn the handle inward so no child can pull the hot pan down.
Common mistakes
- Taking BP right after running or climbing stairs. Sit quietly for 5 minutes first.
- Giving a child medicine without checking temperature and the dose on the label.
- Keeping medicines or phenyl in drink bottles or on a low table.
- Using wet hands on switches, or plugging many heaters into one socket.