Thermal imaging scanner proves to be more cost-effective

Forget about the tedious task of scanning anyone entering the Scaliiwags Children's Centre, Jump Start Early Learning Centre and Braidwood's Wallace Street Early Childhood Centre premises.

That can now be done automatically thanks to the first ever purchase of the recently invented thermal imaging scanner by a pre-school in the country.

Melanie Wakefield, who runs the Scaliiwags Children's Centre, explained how the new technology worked.

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"The children love having their temperature taken," Ms Wakefield said.

"They stand in front of it and the scanners measure six points across their forehead.

"You can see a thermal picture of the part of the body it is scanning.

"If you're too close, it tells you to take a step back and if you're too far, it tells you to take a step forward.

"A temperature is considered to be 37.5 degrees or above.

"It lets out a beep if it goes over.

"We take temperatures three times a day."

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The best thing about the T-Scan thermal imaging scanner is it works to help offer a layer against limiting the spread of COVID-19 if anyone is running a high temperature."

The scanners are also definitely more cost-effective.

"It's more cost effective because everybody just takes their own temperature," she said.

"There used to be one staff member constantly conducting the tests, but they can now do other work instead."

Ms Wakefield said she found out about the scanners through a famous musician and thought it would be very useful for her childcare centre.

"I found out about it through my partner who was doing a story with Powderfinger bass guitarist Johnny Collins," she said.

"They had put one in at the Triffid in Brisbane and received a lot of positive feedback from that.

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"It only took a second to register a temperature, so the flow of patrons sped up."

Upon hearing the feedback, she instantly decided to invest in it and has been using it for two weeks.

"I thought you know what, I know my staff are standing out the front of my centre scanning everyone who comes in.

"I contacted the distributor of the scanners in Australia and was sent one for trial and it worked really well.

"It's so much more accurate than a thermometer. It's incredible."

The pre-school also uses the scanner on parents and staff.

For more information about the scanners, go to www.t-scan.com.au

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