TLE- CAREGIVING LESSON 2.

1 TOOLS AND PARAPHERNALIA

One of the most important tasks of a caregiver is to make sure that he uses the right
equipment's, tools, or paraphernalia that is applicable to a specific job. As a caregiver you
must be knowledgeable to all of the tools, equipment's and paraphernalia used in caregiving
in order for you to attend your clients needs. If a caregiver does not have any knowledge
to these things he might put himself and his clients in danger. That is why as a future
caregiver you should be well versed with the different tools and equipment's that you will
use when you are already the health care profession.

Tools, Equipment and Used in Meal Preparation

Blender- is a kitchen and laboratory appliance which is used to mix, puree, or emulsify food
and other substances.

Coffee Maker- is an electric countertop appliance that brews hot coffee automatically.

Chopping Board- is a flat wooden or plastic board where meats or vegetables can be cut.

Electric Knife- is a knife is a kitchen device which is used for slicing food. It requires
less physical effort than an ordinary knife and makes neater slices.

Electric Can opener- is a very useful device which is used to open canned goods with ease
and accuracy.

Food processor- is a multi-tasking tool which is used to slice,dice or whip food

ingredients.

Food Tongs- is an instrument with two hinged or sprung arms for grasping and holding.

Soup Ladle- is a long-handled spoon with a deep bowl at the end for serving food specially
broth or soup.

Microwave Oven- is an instriment or equipment that uses microwave to cook or to heat

food.

Tools Equipment and Paraphernalia for Cleaning, Washing and Ironing.

Bottle Sterilizer- is an apparatus which is used in destructing microorganisms in

containers like feeding bottle through boiling.

Broom- is an tool used for sweeping dirt, consist of twigs and bristles bound together and
attached to a handle.

Dishwasher- is a mechanical device for cleaning dishes, eating utensils and pots.

Dustpan- is a handled pan or scoop into which dust is swept.

Duster- is a cloth or brush which is used in removing dirt and dust.

Flat Iron- is an electric appliance which is used along with an ironing board, to iron or
press clothing, fabric or draperies.

Ironing Board- is a long, narrow padded board, often with collapsible supporting legs, used
as a working surface for ironing.

Laundry/Sorting Basket- is a hamper that is used for holding dirty clothes for washing or
wet clothes for drying. It may also be used for sorting clean clothes to be folded.

Washing Machine- is an electric appliance which is used for washing clothes and linen.

Tools, Equipment and Paraphernalia for Taking Vital Signs

Common Equipment in Taking The Vital signs.

When caring for an infant, toddler, child, elderly or person with special needs, measuring
the vital signs is of utmost concern. This is also a concern of your client. Hence, he/she
has the right to know her vital signs. This will walk you through the basics of taking two of
the important measurements. As you learn the different processes, you will also get your
hands on the crucial pointers necessary in obtaining an accurate reading. But first, let us
talk about vital signs.

Vital signs are bodily functions that reflect the body's state of health and are easily
measurable: body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. In some
cases, the fifth vital sign is considered to be the pain that a person experiences.

BP APPARATUS ANCROID (SPHYGMOMANOMETER)

- An aneroid unit is mercury free and consist of a cuff that can be applied with one hand
for self-testing; a stethoscope that is built in or attached; and a value that inflates and
deflates automatically with the data displayed on an easy-to-read gauge that will function
in any position.

BP APPARATUS MERCURIAL (SPHYGMOMANOMETER)

- A mercury-based unit has a manually inflatable cuff attached by tubing to the unit that
is calibrated in milimiters of mercury. During blood pressure measurement, the unit must
be kept upright on a flat surface and the gauge read at eye level.

BP APPARATUS DIGITAL (SPHYGMOMANOMETER)

- A digital unit is mercury free and consists of a cuff that can be applied with one hand
for self-testing; a stethoscope that is built in or attached; and a valve that inflates and
deflates automatically with the data displayed on LCD
BP APPARATUS DIGITAL (SPHYGMOMANOMETER)

- A digital unit is mercury free and consists of a cuff that can be applied with one hand
for self-testing; a stethoscope that is built in or attached; and a valve that inflates and
deflates automatically with the data displayed on LCD

Thermometer-A thermometer is an instrument for measuring temperature. A

thermometer is device that measures gradient. A thermometer has two important
elements: a temperature sensor in which

Body temperature is a measurement of the amount of heat in the body. The balance
between heat produced and heat lost is the body temperature. The normal adult body
temperature is 37 degrees Celcius. there is a normal range in which a person's body
temperature may vary and still be considered normal. Take a look at these normal ranges
of body temperature.

Oral: 36.4 to 37.2 degrees celsius

Rectal: 37 to 37.8 degrees Celsius

Axillary: 35.9 to 36.7 degrees celsius

Clinical thermometer- may be inserted either into the rectum through the anus (rectal
temperature). into the mouth under the tounge (oral or sublingul) or armpit (axillary
temperature). It is made of glass with a narrowing above the bulb so that the mercury
column stays in position even when the instrument is removed. The use of this type is now
being eradicated as the mercury content is dangerous to people.

Digital thermomether- this thermometer displays the reading in the LCD. Digital
thermometers are temperature-sensing instruments that are easily portable and a
convenient digital displays. The way a digital thermometer works depends upon its type of
sensor. Sensor types include resistance temperature detector (RTD), thermocouple and
thermistor. This type of thermometer does not use mercury which is hazardous to humans.
That is why more and more people are using it now. Also, using this is simple,quick and
effective.

Ear digital thermometer

- It measures the heat coming from the eardrum This release of heat is converted into a
temperature and displayed on an LCD.

-Remote ear thermometers, also calle tympanic thermometers, use an infrared ray to
measure the temperature inside the ear canal.
-The pros: when positioned properly, infrared ear thermometers are quick nd generally
comfortable for children and adults.

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. Others call it non-contact thermomether because of its ability to measure
temperature from a distance. It provides temperature reading without physically touching
the object. All you have to do is aim at the object (as in the forehead), pull the trigger and
immediately, you can see the temperature reading on the LCD.

LESSON 4: Tools, Equipment, and Paraphernalia for Taking Vital Signs

Vital signs are bodily functions that reflect the body's state of health and are easily measurable: body
temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. In some cases, the fifth vital sign is
considered to be the pain that a person experiences

BP Apparatus Aneroid (sphygmomanometer) An aneroid unit is mercury free and consists of a cuff that
can be applied with one hand for self-testing; a stethoscope that is built in or attached; and a valve that
inflates and deflates automatically with the data displayed on an easy-to-read gauge that will function in
any position.
A mercury-based unit has a manually inflatable cuff attached by tubing to the unit that is calibrated in
millimeters of mercury. During blood pressure measurement, the unit must be kept upright on a flat
surface and the gauge read at eye level.

A digital unit is mercury free and consists of a cuff that can be applied with one hand for self-testing; a
stethoscope that is built in or attached; and a valve that inflates and deflates automatically with the data
displayed on the LCD.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels. The heart contracts
as it pumps the blood into the arteries. When the heart is contracting, the pressure is highest. This pressure
is what we know as systolic pressure.

Now, as the heart relaxes between each contraction, the pressure decreases. When the heart is at its most
relaxed state, the pressure is lowest. And we call this diastolic pressure

Stethoscope is an instrument that is used for listening to the action of the heart, lungs, etc., usually
consisting of a circular piece placed against the chest, with tubes leading to earpieces.

A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or a temperature gradient. A thermometer has two
important elements: a temperature sensor in which some change occurs with a change in temperature; and
some means of converting this change into a numerical value.
Body temperature is a measurement of the amount of heat in the body. The balance between heat
produced and heat lost is the body temperature. The normal adult body temperature is 37 degrees
Celsius. There is a normal range in which a person's body temperature may vary and still be considered
normal.

normal ranges of body temperature:

Oral: 36.4 to 37.2 degrees Celsius

Rectal: 37 to 37.8 degrees Celsius

Axillary: 35.9 to 36.7 degrees Celsius

Different types of thermometers: • Clinical thermometer may be inserted either into the rectum through
the anus (rectal temperature), into the mouth under the tongue (oral or sub-lingual), or armpit (axillary
temperature).

It is made of glass with a narrowing above the bulb so that the mercury column stays in position even
when the instrument is removed. The use of this type is now being eradicated as the mercury content is
dangerous to people.
Ear digital thermometer It measures the heat coming from the eardrum. This release of heat is
converted into a temperature and displayed on an LCD.

Infrared thermometer is a thermometer that infers temperature from a portion of the thermal radiation
sometimes called black body radiation emitted by the object being measured. Others call it a non-contact
thermometer because of its ability to measure temperature distance. from

It provides temperature reading without physically touching the object. All you have to do is aim at the
object (as in the forehead), pull the trigger and immediately, you can see the temperature reading on the
LCD.

illnesses and Good Health Illness comes in many different forms which bring about varied definitions of
what an illness is hall about.

Causes of illnesses exhibit an identifiable cause which makes it possible for a medical expert to come up
with the appropriate cure. There is also illness where the causes are known but there is no found cure,
illnesses may arise from a variety of causes.

The term chronic means long-lasting. They develop slowly, last for a long time, cause general
deterioration in the patient's condition, and may be incurable. Oftentimes, it is misused to indicate a
severe condition. Examples of chronic diseases are rheumatoid, arthritis, coronary heart disease, and
chronic bronchitis.

An acute illness is a short term where the person is attacked rapidly yet recovers quickly and the illness
is easily forgotten. It may clear up its own (common cold) or the patient may need medical treatment
(antibiotics).

Non-infectious diseases are diseases that are not caused by pathogens. Many people worry a lot over
diseases that develop slowly because of the wrong notion that they can no longer be cured. These
diseases can be prevented by practicing good health habits.

LESSON 10: Causes of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by living organisms called pathogens. These are commonly known as
germs. When a person is infected with any of infectious disease, he can spread pathogens to a person who
does not have the disease.

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, and animal parasites are the five groups of pathogens. Most pathogens
are very small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Bacteria are one-celled organisms made of a very small amount of living matter surrounded by a thin cell
wall (Mifflin, 1991). They are classified by the shapes of their cells. Bacteria can thrive almost
everywhere seven miles deep in the ocean and 40 miles above the earth.

Virus is a single unit of genetic material in a protein shell (Mifflin, 1991). They are the smallest of the
pathogens and they can be seen only by a microscope. To give you an idea of the size of the virus to
reproduce itself. This may cause the host cell to die. After the host cell dies, the virus again attacks other
cells.
Viruses cause the common cold and several others. Even with the presence of advanced medical
technology, successful treatments for many viruses have not yet been developed or discovered. Luckily,
the body's natural defense mechanism overcomes most viruses.

Fungi are small plant-like organisms. Mushrooms are examples of fungi that can be seen easily while
others are microscopic; microscopic fungi cause skin diseases like athlete's foot. They are hard to control
at times but the good news is that they cannot cause death.

Protists are one-celled organisms with specialized internal structures. They are bigger than bacteria. They
include different types of amoeba.

Animal Parasites are organisms that thrive and obtain their food on or in another animal. They can be
seen without the use of a microscope. These animals are contracted through infected food and water and
stay in the intestines. They include different kinds of worms. Trichinosis is one of the serious diseases
caused by parasitic worms.

Food Poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. It's not usually serious and most people
get better within a few days without treatment. In most cases of food poisoning, the food is contaminated
by bacteria, such as salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli), or a virus, such as a norovirus.

Leptospirosis is a rare bacterial infection we get from animals. It's spread through their urine, especially
from dogs, rodents, and farm animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.