Taking An Axillary Temperature - Welch Allyn 420 Series Operator's Manual

4. Insert the probe tip gently into the patient's slightly opened
mouth. Carefully slide the probe under the tongue on either side
of the mouth to reach the posterial medial sublingual pocket (see
illustration). Accurate temperatures are obtained only in this
location. Temperatures in other mouth locations can vary by as
much as 2°F or 1°C.
5. Hold the probe during the entire temperature measurement
process to insure the probe tip maintains tissue contact.
6. During the temperature measurement cycle, the temperature
display shows a series of LCD segments in a box-shaped
formation. This indicates that the temperature measurement is in
process.
7 . When the final temperature is reached, a beep sounds and the temperature is displayed.
8. After the temperature measurement is complete, remove the probe from the patient's mouth
and eject the probe cover by firmly pressing the ejection button on the probe. Dispose of the
used probe cover properly.
9. Insert the probe into the probe holder before attempting to take another temperature
measurement.
10. In Normal mode, the current temperature is displayed for 2 minutes after the probe is placed
back in the holder. The display then disappears (unless another measurement is active). You
may recall the last patient reading by pressing the Mode button.
Note: If a probe position icon appears during the temperature determination, the temperature display
alternates between the final predicted temperature and the letter "P ."

Taking an Axillary Temperature

Note: Normal mode axillary temperatures are FDA approved only for children under the age of four. In
Normal mode the device may not take accurate axillary temperatures for older children or adults. If
an axillary reading is desired for a patient age four and older, use the oral probe in Monitor mode.
THE WELCH ALLYN SPOT VITAL SIGNS IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE ON NEONATAL PATIENTS.
To take an axillary temperature in either Normal or Monitor mode:
Normal Mode
1. Insure that the oral probe is connected to the unit. The oral probe is BLUE. Accurate oral
temperatures are obtained only by using the blue temperature probe.
2. Remove the probe from the probe holder. A short self-test mode is initiated where every LCD
segment on the temperature display is illuminated briefly. Following this self-test, the display
shows "OrL" indicating the oral probe is in use.
3. Press the Mode button once and the LCD shows " ALY ," indicating that the device is now
ready to take an axillary temperature reading. Note that subsequent presses of the Mode
button toggle between the oral and axillary modes of operation. The device's display must
show " ALY" prior to the initiation of an axillary temperature measurement.
Spot Vital Signs 33