Module 3 Caregiving

MODULE 3
Use of tools , Equipment

and Paraphernalia
LEARNING OUTCOME 2
LO 2. Use caregiving tools equipment, and paraphernalia
2.1 Use equipment, tools and paraphernalia based on the

task requirement
Common Equipment in Taking the Vital Signs
When caring for an infant, toddler, child, elderly or person

with special needs, measuring the vital signs is of utmost
concern. This is also a concern of your client. Hence,
he/she has the right to know her vital signs.
Thermometer
Body temperature is a measurement of the amount of heat in the
body. The balance between heat produced and heat lost is the body
temperature. The normal adult body temperature is 37 degrees
Celsius. There is a normal range in which a person’s body
temperature may vary and still be considered normal. Take a look at
these normal ranges of body temperature:
Oral : 36.4 to 37.2 degrees Celsius

Rectal : 37 to 37.8 degrees Celsius
Axillary : 35.9 to 36.7 degrees Celsius
Clinical thermometer may be inserted either into the rectum
through the anus (rectal temperature), into the mouth under the
tongue (oral or sub-lingual) or armpit (axillary temperature). It is
made of glass with a narrowing above the bulb so that the
mercury column stays in position even when the instrument is
removed. The use of this type is now being eradicated as the
mercury content is dangerous to people.
Digital thermometer may be inserted into the mouth under the

tongue, under the armpit or into the anus. This thermometer
displays the reading in the LCD. This type of thermometer does not
use mercury which is hazardous to humans. That is why more and
more people are using it now. Also, using this is simple, quick and
effective.
Ear digital thermometer measures the heat coming from the
eardrum. This release of heat is converted into a temperature and
displayed on an LCD. It is very easy to use this. You just have to
place the tip in the ear of a person, press the button and in a few
seconds, the measurement is seen on the LCD.
Infrared thermometer with laser pointer measures temperature

using thermal radiation emitted by the body. It is also called
laser thermometer if a laser is utilized to aid in aiming the
thermometer. Others call it non-contact thermometer because
of its ability to measure temperature from a distance. It provides
temperature reading without physically touching the object. All
you have to do is aim at the object (as in the forehead), pull the
trigger and immediately, you can see the temperature reading on
the LCD.
Using a Digital Thermometer (mouth)
1. Wash your hands and take the thermometer from its holder.
2. Clean the probe (pointed end) of the thermometer with rubbing alcohol or soap and then rinse it in
cool water.
3. Inform the client that you are going to take his temperature orally.
4. Ask the client to wet his/her lips and pick up his tongue.
5. Place the thermometer under the client’s tongue on one side of his/her mouth. Ask him/her to close
his/her lips. (You may have to hold the thermometer specially if your client is sick and weak enough to
even hold the thermometer with his/her lips.)
6. Leave the thermometer in place until the thermometer signals it is finished. When it beeps, it signifies
that it can be removed.
7. Remove the thermometer carefully and read the temperature on the digital display. Clean the tip of
the thermometer with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Put the thermometer’s tip cover. Place the
thermometer in its container.
8. Record the reading and wash your hands.

BP Apparatus
Another important measurement that you should learn to take is the
blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against
the walls of the blood vessels. The heart contracts as it pumps the blood
into the arteries. When the heart is contracting, the pressure is highest.
This pressure is what we know as the systolic pressure. Now, as the
heart relaxes between each contraction, the pressure decreases. When
the heart is at its most relaxed state, the pressure is lowest. And we call
this diastolic pressure. The following steps will help you measure blood
pressure accurately.
USING BP APPARATUS
1. Wash your hands and prepare the equipment you will use.
2. Introduce yourself and let the patient/client know the procedure to be done.
3. Sanitize the earpieces of the stethoscope with an antiseptic pad.
4. Ask your client to rest quietly. Have him/her lie down or sit on a chair whichever is more comfortable for him/her.
5. If you are using a mercurial apparatus, the measuring scale should be within the level of your eyes.
6. Expose the arm of your client by rolling the sleeves up. Have your client’s arm from the elbow down to rest fully
extended on the bed or the arm of a chair.
7. Unroll the cuff, loosen the screw and squeeze the cuff with your hands to remove air completely.
8. Wrap the cuff around your client’s arm above the elbow, not too tight or too loose.
9. Find your client’s brachial pulse at the inside of the elbow. Hold the diaphragm there and inflate the cuff until the
pulse disappears. Take note of the reading and immediately deflate the cuff. This is the client’s approximate systolic
reading and is called the palpated systolic pressure.
10. Place the stethoscope’s earpieces into your ears and place the diaphragm on the brachial pulse.
11. Turn the screw to close it. Inflate the cuff until the dial points to 30 mm above the palpated
systolic pressure.
12. Turn the screw to open it. Let the air escape slowly until the sound of the pulse comes back. Take
note of the calibration that the pointer passes as you hear the first sound. This indicates the systolic
pressure.
13. You have to continue releasing the air from the cuff. When you hear the sounds change to
something softer and faster and disappear, take note of the calibration. This is now the diastolic
pressure.
14. Deflate the cuff complete. Remove it from the arm of your client and record the reading on the
client’s chart.
15. Wipe the earpieces of the stethoscope with an antiseptic pad and place the equipment back to
their proper place and wash your hands.

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MODULE 3

Use of tools , Equipment

LO 2. Use caregiving tools equipment, and paraphernalia

2.1 Use equipment, tools and paraphernalia based on the

When caring for an infant, toddler, child, elderly or person

Oral : 36.4 to 37.2 degrees Celsius

Digital thermometer may be inserted into the mouth under the

Infrared thermometer with laser pointer measures temperature

8. Record the reading and wash your hands.

3. Sanitize the earpieces of the stethoscope with an antiseptic pad.

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