Humidifiers and vaporizers add moisture to the air, making it less drying to your mouth, throat, and nose. A humidifier blows cool to lukewarm mist into the air, and a vaporizer puts out hot steam. A cool-mist humidifier is better for children.

The mist from a humidifier may be more comfortable to breathe than hot steam. But humidifiers are noisy, produce particles that may be irritating to some people, and need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Cleaning is especially important for people who have mould allergies. Follow the directions for cleaning the machine.

A vaporizer's hot steam is germ-free and may feel good when you have a cold. But the hot water can burn anyone who overturns or gets too close to the device.

Medicine spoons are transparent tubes with marks that show typical dosage amounts. A medicine spoon makes it easy to give the right dose of liquid medicine. While the spoons are convenient for anyone, they are particularly helpful for people who have young children. The tube shape and large lip get most of the medicine into a child's mouth without spilling. Use the measuring device that comes with the medicine, whenever possible.

Learn more

A hand-held mirror or pocket mirror can come in handy for many uses. For example, you may want to use a mirror to help check your skin (Figure 1) for growths or changes or to make it easier to see what you're doing when you use eye ointments or eyedrops.

Figure 1 - Skin self-exam

A skin self-exam is used to identify suspicious growths that may be cancer or growths that may develop into skin cancer (precancers). Look for any abnormal skin growth or any change in the colour, shape, size, or appearance of a skin growth. Check for any area of injured skin (lesion) that does not heal.

To perform a skin self-exam:

• Stand in front of a full-length mirror. Examine your body front and back, then examine your right and left sides with your arms raised.
• Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, the back of your upper arms, and your palms.
• Look at your feet, the soles of your feet, and the spaces between your toes.
• Using a hand mirror, look at:
  • The back of your legs.
  • The back of your neck.
  • Your scalp. Part your hair several times, in different places, to look at your entire scalp.
  • Your back, buttocks, and genital area.

If you see a suspicious skin growth during your self-exam, contact your doctor.

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

A pillbox has lots of small compartments to organize your pills for each day of the week or month. A pillbox can help you or a caregiver keep track of which medicines you need to take. If it's the end of the day, and you see a pill in the compartment for that day, you likely forgot to take a dose.

Be sure to leave at least one pill in the original bottle. That way, if you forget what a pill is for, you can find it in the bottle it came from. A few medicines must be stored in their original containers so that they don't spoil. If your medicine label has this instruction, then don't use a pillbox for that medicine.

Store all medicines and natural health products as directed. And keep them out of reach of children.

Pill splitter

There are many different kinds of pill splitters. Most work like this:

• Place the pill in the slot, and close the lid. A small blade precisely cuts the pill in half.
• Sweep the halves into the open box.
• Pick them up and store them in your normal container.

An otoscope is a hand-held device with a light, a magnifying lens, and a funnel-shaped viewing piece. It has a narrow, pointed end called a speculum that you put inside the ear canal. You can buy this device without a prescription at pharmacies and other retail stores. Some models can connect to your phone and take pictures. This may be helpful in some cases if you have an online visit with your doctor. Ask your doctor if you should buy an otoscope.

Learn more

There are different types of thermometers.

Electronic (Figure 2).

These are plastic and shaped like a pencil. They have a display window at one end and the temperature probe at the other end. These thermometers can be used in the mouth, rectum, or armpit. They are easy to use and easy to read. If you buy this type of thermometer, check the package for information about its accuracy.

Ear (Figure 3).

These are also plastic, but they come in different shapes. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear. Body temperature is shown on a digital display. The results appear in seconds. Some models also show what the oral and rectal readings would be.

Temporal artery.

These thermometers have a small "cup" that is moved across the skin over the artery in the forehead. When used correctly, these thermometers are accurate.

Disposable.

These are thin, flat pieces of plastic with coloured dots and temperature markings on one end. The colour of the dots shows the temperature. These thermometers can be used in the mouth or rectum. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. A patch form can be used on a baby's skin to measure temperature for 48 hours straight. These thermometers are not as accurate as electronic or ear thermometers.

Forehead.

These are thin pieces of plastic with numbers on them. You press the strip against a person's forehead. The temperature makes some numbers change colours or light up. These thermometers are not very accurate.

Pacifier.

These thermometers are shaped like a baby's pacifier. They have a display that shows the temperature. You place the pacifier in your child's mouth to measure temperature. These thermometers may take longer to get a reading. They aren't as accurate as other types.

Learn more

Figure 2 - Thermometers

These are examples of commonly used thermometers.

• Ear thermometers use infrared energy to measure body temperature. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear, and body temperature shows on the digital display. The results appear within seconds. Some models also show the corresponding oral and rectal temperature readings.
• Electronic thermometers have a temperature probe at one end and a digital display window at the other end. They work by measuring how well electricity travels through a wire in the probe. Heating or cooling of the probe changes the flow of electricity. This change is converted into a temperature value that shows in the display window. Electronic thermometers can be used in the mouth, armpit, or rectum.

Current as of: October 24, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Figure 3 - Thermometers

These are examples of commonly used thermometers.

• Ear thermometers use infrared energy to measure body temperature. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear, and body temperature shows on the digital display. The results appear within seconds. Some models also show the corresponding oral and rectal temperature readings.
• Electronic thermometers have a temperature probe at one end and a digital display window at the other end. They work by measuring how well electricity travels through a wire in the probe. Heating or cooling of the probe changes the flow of electricity. This change is converted into a temperature value that shows in the display window. Electronic thermometers can be used in the mouth, armpit, or rectum.

Current as of: October 24, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.