37* is that normal?
Daily routines
With the threat of swine flu China has taken some extra precautions with those of us who have come from infected countries. Anyone entering China from a country with known cases of Swine Flu must record and report their temperature 2x a day for the first 7days of arrival.
The night I arrived James informed me of the procedure. I have to admit when I first saw him reach for the enclosed vile I thought he was going to give me a shot. It took every thing out of me not to step back. Much to my relief it was just a thermometer. So twice daily it was, it took me a day to figure out how to read the thing. Then of course adjusting to Celsius took some research to assure myself that 37* was not a deadly temperature.
Wendy calls twice a day 7:45am and 2:45pm for my readings. 37 degrees without waver had been the reading. I began to question the validity of the thermometer as even when not inserted into my armpit, the insisted reading spot, the thermometer read 37 degrees. So oh so smart Kayte, decided to test the thermometer.
I have a water cooler in my living room for my drinking water. It has a hot and cold tap naturally, so I poured my self a cup full of ‘warm’ water thinking “How hot could this water possibly get?” I didn’t even bother to test it with my finger, nope in went the thermometer. Along with the sudden POP my stomach hit the floor. Before looking into the cup to confirm the horror I prayed the pop was from something else, but of course not.
It wasn’t until then that I realized not only had I broken the thermometer but it was a mercury one to boot. I have never seen mercury in real life and I must admit it took some amount of self control not to touch it. It is quite mesmerizing!
I was so embarrassed to tell Wendy or James what had happened but knew I still had four days of readings to turn in. So I finally confessed and after some insistence on my part I purchased a replacement thermometer and have decided to just go with the reading. At least it is not stuck on 39*.
My new temperature is a consistent 36.8*. I am really beginning to question the validity of mercury thermometers.
you killed the themometer!!! haha…My first week in Taiwan I was required to wear a mask whenever I went into the school or was around fellow teachers. But there was no temperature taking.
~Marie