Are there any oral thermometers that really work? The g/f's son is home sick. She bought a brand new thermometer. He's sweating up a storm and is reading 97.7*F. She tried it on herself and it read 97.3*F.

Try the B-D brand. They are usually accurate.

We find even the cheaper digital thermometers from Walgreens do pretty well.

I finally put one in my first aid kit now that I'm a Boy Scout leader. The digital ones last a looong time and are much easier to use. Most kids have never seen any other kind - other than those ear ones.

He may not have that high a fever. It may be that something is just messing up his thermal regulation system and his body "thinks" he is hot.

Make sure you put a box of those disposable thermometer jackets in the FAK too, you can get a box of 50 or 100 for short money, but, they are pretty handy to have if you're using the thermometer in a group FAK.

I have the few that came with the thermometer. I figured if necessary I could always dunk it in the chlorinated rinse water to disinfect, but I suppose some extra covers cost next to nothing and take very little space.

So far I haven't had to use it, but then I've only been camping with my son's troop for just short of 1 year - though that included a 2-week stay at summer camp.

For a FAK, or a group thing, those little stick-on-the-forehead strip thermometers might be easier. I have compared a couple of them with regular thermometers, and they seemed to be pretty accurate...

After a week of summer camp I don't think anything will stick to my Scouts' grimmy foreheads. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I'll look into the strips though though. I've never used them before.

"...After a week of summer camp I don't think anything will stick to my Scouts' grimmy foreheads..."

Good point. I forgot, it has been a long while since my son's scouting days, and even longer since mine.

Last time I saw one, it was in the first aid section of a major drug store...

Yes, but your not allowed to have mercury anymore

lol