HOW BIG A Lesson in Measurements of all Kinds

What do YOU Think?? Which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold? A pound of gold and a pound of feathers both weigh 16 oz. Therefore, there weight is equal, but the feathers take up more space, so they have a larger mass.

What are the different ways to tell if you are gaining or losing weight? Use the scale: compare daily or weekly. Even though we don’t usually deal with gold or feathers in health care, we are often responsible for accurate weights and measures as part of our daily practice.

Examples in Health Care Work with a partner and list examples of the following measurements (volume, mass & length) used in the health care field. Measure urine, blood loss, IV solution infused Length/weight of newborn Patient weight Length of crutches Length of laceration

Math Related Examples & Definitions Give me examples of where you would hear these terms: Gallon? Ounce? Liter? Yard? Kilometer? Gallon of milk, ounce of baby formula, liter of Pepsi, yard on a football field, kilometer of travel on a road What does volume mean? Measure of the interior of a three- dimensional figure, always expressed in cubic units.

What does mass mean? The amount of matter in an object, usually expressed in pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg). Is mass the same as weight? No, mass is the amount of space an object takes up and weight refers to the gravitational force exerted by the earth. Weight is directly proportional to mass. Mass

What tools would you use to measure mass and weight? Scale, graduate container, etc. What kind of units would you use to measure mass, volume or length? Pound, cubic meters, centimeters, millimeters, etc.

Circles in Health Care As a review, what are the parts of a circle? Radius – the distance from the center of a circle to any point on that circle. Diameter – a line segment with endpoints on the circle that pass through the center of the circle (2 times the radius). Circumference – the distance around a circle. Which of these measurements might we use in health care? Circumference – an example would be measuring a calf for TED hose sizing.

A newborn is 19.5 inches long. What is her length in centimeters? How many cm are in an inch? 2.54 cm=1 in. Cross multiply the following: KnownUnknown 2.54 cm =__x____ 1 in 19.5 in 1x = (Multiply cross products) 1 1 (Divide by 1 to isolate the variable) x = cm (Solve for “x”) Converting Length

What is her length in meters? How many centimeters in one meter? 100 cm=1 m Known Unknown 100 cm = cm 1m x 100x = X = m (rounded =.5 m = ½ m)

Converting Volume Most adults have 6000 ml of blood in their body. How many ounces is that? How many ml are in an oz? How many cc in an oz? 30 ml/1 oz 30 cc / 1 oz Do ml = cc? Known Unknown 30 ml = 6000 ml 1 oz x oz 30x = x =200 oz

Now, how many quarts is that? How many oz in a qt? 1 qt = 32 oz. So…. KnownUnknown 1 qt = x 32 oz 200 oz 32x = x = 6.25 qt

Converting Mass John weights 190 lbs. What is his weight in kg? How many lbs in a kilogram? 1 kg = 2.2 lbs Known Unknown 1 kg = x kg 2.2 lbs 190 lb 2.2x = x = 86.4 kg Jobs in health care will require you to be proficient in measurement and conversion. Today we will learn the tools of measurement and the units involved in the medical field.

Doing the Measuring Today we have set up several stations which you will need to work your way through. With your assigned group, take your packet and work through each of the stations. Measure the object and work through the problems on your worksheet. Use the charts included in the packets to find your answers. Attached to the worksheet you will also find a short quiz. Please turn in the entire packet when completed.