5. Stadiometers for Measuring Children and Adolescents

Although it would seem efficient to use a stature device attached to a scale, height attachments on scales are never used. Not only are they inaccurate -- because they do not provide a firm platform for the measurement -- but they are relatively sharp, and thus pose a risk for harm to the patient.

It is inappropriate to measure stature with the moveable measuring rod on platform scales. The headpiece is unsteady and too narrow and the base [weighing platform] will sink because of the weight of the individual.

			Height attachments on scales are never used
			inaccurate dangerous