Monitoring sick kids from home.

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - Innovia Medical, LLC

If it's time to go back to school, then it's almost time for something else much less pleasant--flu season. Now would be a good time to stock up on some of the basics--starting with a new thermometer, the Temporal-Scanner from Exergen Corporation, Boston, Mass. This infrared thermometer ($49.99) gauges body temperature in just two seconds by capturing the naturally emitted heat from skin over the temporal artery, which runs across the forehead and is connected to the heart directly via the carotid artery. Besides being noninvasive, Exergen is accurate to within +.2[degrees]F--a more accurate reading than taking temperature any other way, including oral, rectal, axillary (under the arm), and tympanic (in the ear).

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Using it couldn't be simpler: depress and hold its soft rubber-coated button and lightly scan across the forehead. A red LED light and soft beep indicate a correct scan. Ergonomically designed of injected molded plastic, the home unit features a high-contrast LCD temperature display, runs on one nine-volt battery (included) and meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements--and is eco-friendly as it contains no mercury.

Visit www.exergen.com for more information.

Another invaluable medical device designed for home use is EarCheck Middle Ear Monitor ($49.95) from Innovia Medical, LLC, Evanston, III. Every year, the back-to-school cough, cold, and flu season among older children leads to an epidemic of toddler ear infections, countless nights without sleep, and many days of missed work and school. Now families can fight back with this neat, new piece of mommy and daddy tech.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It is clinically proven and FDA cleared to...