Oral thermometer = covid lollipop? (doctor, nurse, nerves, virus)

[Willis Arnold]

I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?

[PinkString]

I would say that chances are low. They do sanitize those things.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Willis Arnold

I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?

I assume the nurse was gloved, gowned, masked right? Any time over the past 20 years a health provider/nurse has taken my oral temperature they used a thermometer with a sterile disposable sleeve over the probe. The sleeve was ejected without being touched and tossed into the hazardous waste container immediately afterward.

Taking a sick person's temperature has got to fall under "potentially contagious patient exam procedure 101". You should find a way to manage your anxiety OP.

[mike1003]

[quote=Willis Arnold;61967328]I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?


For God sake, take the temp!

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by Willis Arnold

I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?

You are vaccinated and the thermometer was sterile. You are more likely to get struck by lightning 3 days in a row than get ill from it.

[D217]

I would think catching covid from all the other sick people in the ER would be more likely than from a thermometer, but maybe that's just the way my mind works...

[fleetiebelle]

Over the past year we've learned how COVID spreads--by particles in their, not from surfaces. You can't get sick from ingesting the virus.

[TashaPosh]

Originally Posted by Willis Arnold

I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?

I’m a RN & most hospitals have their techs use no contact thermometers for easier, faster, safer & more accurate readings. AND…covid is a respiratory virus so it spreads mostly person to person by breathing in or swallowing respiratory “droplets” from sneezing, coughing or talking. I assume the tech or aid that took your vitals was masked & vaccinated. So…nothing to worry. BUT..if you continue to experience anxiety, you might want to talk to your doctor about that.

[froscow]

Originally Posted by Willis Arnold

I had to go to er. I am vaccinated but very freaked out about the covid. At the er they took my temp orally. If i was thinking clearly, i would have refused. I cant say for sure what type of thermometer was used or how it was sanitized. Maybe there was plastic over it. Now i am experiencing anxiety.

How likely is it i catch the covid from this unpleasant possibilty?

You don't think they would sanitize it between uses? You sound pretty paranoid. I would not worry about it

[90sSitcom]

OP created a profile just to post this. If they come back I would suggest looking in to ways to calm yourself. Learning to deal with nerves and anxiety is very important.