When shaking down a thermometer, you should allow the column of mercury to fall below which temperature?

To ensure the accuracy of temperature readings when using a mercury thermometer, it is essential to shake the thermometer down so that the mercury column falls to a level below a certain temperature. This temperature is typically set to prevent any mercury from remaining at a higher point that could affect subsequent readings.

In this case, allowing the mercury to fall below 95 degrees Fahrenheit is significant because it ensures that the thermometer is reset to a baseline that gives more reliable and lower temperature readings. If the thermometer is not shaken down sufficiently, it might retain mercury at a higher reading, which could lead to inaccurate measurements when taking a patient’s temperature.

The specific threshold of 95 degrees is selected based on the typical upper limits of normal body temperature and the common range of temperatures encountered in clinical settings. This practice ensures that the thermometer is adequately prepared for precise usage.