My thermometer from FORA does not emit any kind of laser or light when I push the read button to measure a temperature. And while you don't need to worry about their safety, there are some concerns about how accurate these thermometers really are. The Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) retweeted a thread by a local doctor, Muhamad Shazwan Sazali, commenting on a viral video advocating a similar misleading claim. These devices offer efficiency, safety and accuracy in detecting fevers in large groups of people. The press release issued by the Malaysian Ministry of Health says that while there have been some studies regarding the use of thermometers on the wrist, there is still no evidence to confirm its accuracy. The cons: Another photo in the photo gallery shows a guard aiming the infrared thermometer at a man’s forehead, as shown below: AFP Fact Check has also debunked a similar false claim about thermometer guns causing brain damage here, and killing neurons here in Spanish. KUALA LUMPUR: The infrared thermometer does not emit radiation and is safe to use to measure body temperature, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said. They give us the information we need while lowering the risk of coming in contact with the virus. Some infrared thermometers used laser to aim the spot where the temperature is to be measured. Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post taken on August 5, 2020, Screenshot of Mizan Online News Agency’s website. These devices, which are held up to a person's forehead to take their temperature, are being widely used in schools and child care centers. Infrared thermometers are meant to pick up the natural infrared wavelengths that your body emits. "The FDA believes that FDA-cleared infrared thermometers can be safe and effective, and FDA has provided an enforcement policy for clinical electronic thermometers during … They wrote: “Every object with a temperature of over 0 Kelvin (-273 degrees Celsius) will produce infrared spectrum or ray. A reverse image search on Google found the image featured in the misleading posts previously appeared in this photo gallery published by Iran’s Mizan Online News Agency on July 22, 2020. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Readings can be affected by clothing, drafts, direct sunlight and cold air. They do this by gathering the heat coming from the person (in this case, usually the person's forehead). Lithuanian fact-checkers said that there is no scientific evidence that infrared thermometers can have an impact on that. There has been a tight race between the digital and infrared thermometers. Since the infrared thermometer does not emit dangerous radiation, it is safe to use.”. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. This beam is categorised as a Class II laser which emit visible light below one milliwatt and can be sold as ‘pointers’ used to … The uptick in their popularity appears to have coincided with an increase in misinformation about the devices.. Copyright AFP 2017-2020. It is the infrared light coming from the person that is being gathered by the thermometer, not infrared light being projected to the person. It is designed to detect and absorb the infrared light signals from the surface of the skin and convert it to electricity signals. AFP and its logo are registered trademarks. The electronic circuit in this thermometer processes these electrical signals to determine the human body’s temperature being measured and show it on the display screen. The image was also repeated alongside the same claim here, here and here on Facebook. A digital infrared thermometer can be the answer to your problems. Avoid being shot!”. Infrared thermometers are safe and don’t damage the pineal gland 12:51 | 27th August 2020 (GMT) A worrying message widely shared on Facebook warns that infrared thermometers may be “causing potential health issues by aiming an infrared ray to the pineal gland”. “Since infrared thermometers do not emit harmful radiations, it is safe to be used. In this August 4, 2020 post on Facebook, Dr Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris, a medical doctor and co-founder of Medical Mythbusters Malaysia, wrote that the non-contact infrared thermometers “only have sensors that detect temperature on the surface of the body” and that temperatures are taken from the forehead because it is “more accurate” compared to other parts of the body. You may have seen the social media posts warning about possible dangers of non-contact infrared thermometers. Any other use, in particular any reproduction, communication to the public or distribution of the content of this website, in whole or in part, for any other purpose and/or by any other means, without a specific licence agreement signed with AFP, is strictly prohibited. The good news is that the claims about their danger are false. 1. Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Murray completed an MBA at the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business Administration. She is an Assistant Professor in both the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester. Infrared thermometers don’t emit radiation into the brain; they sense heat emitted by the body. Non-contact approach may reduce the risk of spreading disease between people being evaluated In a Facebook post dated July 25, 2020, here, the National Metrology Institute of Malaysia also explained that infrared thermometers are safe. Below is a screenshot of the photo on Mizan’s website – AFP has circled the relevant photo in red: The first sentence of the gallery’s Persian-language sub-headline translates to English as: “Every year, before the start of the hajj, the curtain of the Kaaba is lifted and white linen cloths are placed around the Kaaba.”. Making sure that anyone using a non-contact infrared thermometer knows the how to use it correctly will also help with accurate readings. A tweet claiming that infrared thermometers can cause damage to brain cells is MISLEADING. 4 min read. https://t.co/eseaZKo4Sn, The ministry’s Malaysian-language tweet translates to English as: “Infrared Thermometers are safe and do not cause cancer.”, Dr Shazwan’s tweet reads in part: “Infrared thermometers cause cancer? Since the temperature is being measured from the child's forehead, for example, items such as winter​ hats or head bands can temporarily skew the results. Infrared thermometers have produced lower readings in lab tests meant to simulate athletic settings than other devices, which could deprive patients of critical care. A standard infrared thermometer absorbs infrared but doesn’t emit it, so from that perspective they are safe. All rights reserved. BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Infrared thermometers are safe and pose no health risk, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws told a gathering at the September 18 National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) press briefing.. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws says infrared thermometers are safe to use. The Mayo Clinic, a US medical non-profit, explains that infrared thermometers are used because they are non-invasive and easy to use, although they do … Answer. Infrared laser thermometers are highly accurate, useful devices that have found applications in many different fields. Safety. Copyright AFP 2017-2020. The subject matter depicted or included via links within the Fact Checking content is provided to the extent necessary for correct understanding of the verification of the information concerned. This makes infrared thermometer safe to use on babies since it doesn’t require contact to measure temperature. The thermometer is primarily pointed at one’s forehead; however, in recent weeks, it appears that there has been a shift from pointing the infrared thermometer to one’s forehead to one’s wrist. Although they are being used in hospitals in the US and globally, and by tons of people at home, some folks still think infrared thermometers are harmful to babies and some parts of the human body such as the eye.Well, not to worry, this piece is primarily aimed at breaking open the questions surrounding the safety of infrared thermometers on humans. This Guide On Infrared Forehead Thermometers Reveals The Best 5 Forehead Thermometers Made in the USA. The reason why we use an infrared thermometer on the forehead, Dr Sequeria explains, is because the more surface area these thermometers get, the more accurate the reading is. Like other types of thermometers, these devices measure the temperature of a surface. They wrote: “Every object with a … The infrared thermometer is preferred due to its non-contact functionality. “Because it is feared the brain can be affected if it is ‘always shot on’ by laser. ​Elizabeth Murray, DO, MBA, FAAP, is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. They are sometimes called laser thermometers as a laser is used to help aim the thermometer, or non-contact thermometers or temperature guns, to describe the device's ability to measure temperature from a … A: With the surge of COVID-19, many hospitals and businesses have implemented temperature screenings for employees, patients and customers using infrared thermometers. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Yes, an infrared laser thermometer is safe to point at someones head, and won't impact your pineal gland. The Malaysian-language caption translates to English as: “In Medina and Mecca, they don’t ‘shoot’ temperature on the head but on the hand is also allowed! No device is perfect. Yes, the infrared thermometer is a robust, pleasant, and accurate option for estimation of the temperature and is exceptionally valuable for the screening of fever in the pediatric populace. They pose no risk to the pineal gland, which is located deep within the brain, according to … All rights reserved. You may have seen the social media posts warning about possible dangers of non-contact infrared thermometers. Infrared thermometer for humans There is an easier way to get an accurate temperature from humans without causing them any further discomfort. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about She was named an official spokesperson of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2014 and can be seen regularly on Good Day Rochester, ABC Affiliate Rochester, NY.​. Infrared ear thermometers are appropriate for infants older than age 6 months, older children and adults. There are industrial infrared thermometers that point a laser at the object of which temperature it is taking, and you would not want someone pointing that laser at your eyes/forehead, but we are talking about two different types of thermometers here. The claim, however, is false. I don’t know who made this video, but this is clearly not accurate.”, In this press release on August 3, 2020, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Malaysia’s director general of health, said: “Non-contact infrared thermometers are not a shooting tool and do not emit radiation. They don’t, however, detect COVID-19 in these individuals. CLAIM: Infrared thermometers, which are held near the forehead to scan body temperature without direct contact, point an infrared light directly at the brain’s pineal gland, exposing it to harmful radiation. Phew! An infrared thermometer is a thermometer which infers temperature from a portion of the thermal radiation sometimes called black-body radiation emitted by the object being measured. Keep the Cover On At All Times. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. These digital thermometers do not require that you hold anything in your mouth or under the arm. Non-contact infrared thermometers that measure body temperature when held up to a person’s head have become popular amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post dated July 25, 2020, here, the National Metrology Institute of Malaysia also explained that infrared thermometers are safe. These devices, which are held up to a person's forehead to take their temperature, are being widely used in schools and child care centers. This particular Instagram post claims non-contact infrared thermometers deliver a harmful “shot of radiation” to the … The problem with safety comes from laser thermometers, which emit a beam of light to highlight the area of the object being assessed to ensure accuracy. Kaaba, considered by the most sacred spot for Muslims, is a shrine located near the centre of the Great Mosque in the Saudi city of Mecca. Are Infrared Forehead Thermometers Safe? This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Infrared thermometers will detect this infrared ray or spectrum on wavelengths between 8-14 micrometers and convert it to a temperature reading … No laser rays are involved for the human body’s temperature range.”, The US Food and Drug Administration states here that thermometer guns “may reduce the risk of spreading disease between people.". The pros: When positioned properly, infrared ear thermometers are quick and generally comfortable for children and adults. false. Reducing shared touch points is very important in slowing the spread of COVID-19​ as well and other germs, which is why touch-free devices like these are useful. These devices are also very quick, which allows for rapid screening of a large number of people in a relatively short period of time. Follow the below tips to safely use an infrared laser thermometer safely and accurately. Health authorities say infrared thermometers are safe. AFP has not obtained any rights from the authors or copyright owners of this third party content and shall incur no liability in this regard. taking your child's temperature and whether they might be sick. A child's temperature can also be retaken once they're inside and warmed up. Each type has its own pros and cons. Users can access and consult this website and use the share features available for personal, private, and non-commercial purposes. A video has been viewed thousands of times on Facebook and YouTube alongside a claim that thermometer guns cause “damage” to the brain because they contain infrared radiation. As long as the Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers are used properly, they do not represent a risk of possible eye damage, as these Thermometers do not use lasers to measure body heat, the authorized thermometers measure infrared light; therefore they are not dangerous. Because a laser beam is involved, it is important to be very cautious during its use. 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