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. The good news is that the claims about their danger are false. Some infrared thermometers used laser to aim the spot where the temperature is to be measured. 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. A: With the surge of COVID-19, many hospitals and businesses have implemented temperature screenings for employees, patients and customers using infrared thermometers. 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. Safety. 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. 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. The uptick in their popularity appears to have coincided with an increase in misinformation about the devices.. AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. “The human body emits electromagnetic radiation,” said Dr. Laws. “Since infrared thermometers do not emit harmful radiations, it is safe to be used. It is the infrared light coming from the person that is being gathered by the thermometer, not infrared light being projected to the person. They don’t, however, detect COVID-19 in these individuals. It is designed to detect and absorb the infrared light signals from the surface of the skin and convert it to electricity signals. Copyright AFP 2017-2020. 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.”. Infrared thermometers don’t emit radiation into the brain; they sense heat emitted by the body. Answer. 1. These devices are also very quick, which allows for rapid screening of a large number of people in a relatively short period of time. Copyright AFP 2017-2020. Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Murray completed an MBA at the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business Administration. Each type has its own pros and cons. 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. 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.​. Lithuanian fact-checkers said that there is no scientific evidence that infrared thermometers can have an impact on that. Are Infrared Forehead Thermometers Safe? No device is perfect. A digital infrared thermometer can be the answer to your problems. “Because it is feared the brain can be affected if it is ‘always shot on’ by laser. The good news is that the claims about their danger are In a Facebook post dated July 25, 2020, here, the National Metrology Institute of Malaysia also explained that infrared thermometers are safe. You may have seen the social media posts warning about possible dangers of non-contact infrared thermometers. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Making sure that anyone using a non-contact infrared thermometer knows the how to use it correctly will also help with accurate readings. "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 … The infrared thermometer is preferred due to its non-contact functionality. 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. 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. Phew! 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. You may have seen the social media posts warning about possible dangers of non-contact infrared thermometers. 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. The claim, however, is false. 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”. Infrared thermometer for humans There is an easier way to get an accurate temperature from humans without causing them any further discomfort. And while you don't need to worry about their safety, there are some concerns about how accurate these thermometers really are. Since the infrared thermometer does not emit dangerous radiation, it is safe to use.”. They wrote: “Every object with a temperature of over 0 Kelvin (-273 degrees Celsius) will produce infrared spectrum or ray. Because a laser beam is involved, it is important to be very cautious during its use. 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. 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. Non-contact approach may reduce the risk of spreading disease between people being evaluated 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 … Infrared thermometers have produced lower readings in lab tests meant to simulate athletic settings than other devices, which could deprive patients of critical care. However, this is easily corrected by reminding students to remove their hats as they enter the school or approach the building. 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