Did he have a fever when he was screened probably not, but we should not put our nation’s health in the misplaced reliance on the accuracy of these thermometers.
Here is the truth on the use of thermometers in determining whether someone has a fever. I am a nurse and hubby is a pediatrician and this is what I know. Digital thermometers that measure temperatures on foreheads and in ears are notoriously inaccurate and untrustworthy for providing accurate temperatures and yes they are all FDA approved. The only way to get an accurate temperature on a person is rectally. When getting accurate temperatures, the accuracy of the device depends on its proximity to an artery.
This is why post operative patients have their temperatures taken rectally after surgery because it is very important to know whether they are developing a life threatening post operative infection. When our children were little and they were sick my husband would tell me unless you have taken their temperatures rectally I’m not interested in knowing what it is. Not a lot of fun for parent or kid, but necessary. Now it should be obvious why this is never done in pediatric clinics or in airports. But the truth is that unless a person’s temperature is taken rectally take that number with a grain of salt. Using the back of your hand is just as effective. If anyone doesn’t believe me, read the studies.
The the suggested thermal scanners would be no benefit?