This post is part of Stand-In Central’s deep-dive series into the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to stand-in work in TV and film. For more posts in the long-running series, visit https://standincentral.com/coronavirus.
— The Editor
One of the things we are starting to see in stand-in work amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is eccentricities among productions as they try to balance shooting while also following industry standards for health and safety.
Certainly, there is no uniformity in how productions deal with these standards. Some productions appear to be appropriately vigilant, while comparatively, some productions appear to be relatively strict. Certainly, there will be transgressions as well as productions that may try to cut corners.
Among the things we’ve noticed is a requirement on some productions to certify one’s temperature before the work day. This means that if you don’t have a thermometer handy, the lack of that simple and inexpensive device can mean the difference in whether you are allowed to show up to work or not, even if you are aren’t sick.
Here are some observations after recently shopping around for digital thermometers.
Not All Readings Are 98.6°F
Contrary to what you might have learned in health classes, when you are well, your body does not always register as 98.6°F (37°C). There is a range around this temperature. WebMD reports:
For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Babies and children have a little higher range: 97.9 F to 100.4 F.
So, note that the “typical” adult has these body temperatures, and those who are not yet adults may run a little warmer than adults.
Overall, this information means that if you are not right at 98.6°F when you take your temperature, and you’re a little warmer than that, that does not necessarily mean you are “sick” or you “have a fever.”
Simple activities such as talking or exercising can run up a body temperature, too. That, and where you take your body temperature (it is not always taken orally), may affect the temperature reading you get.
Permitted Temperatures to Work
Productions may determine their own temperature at or beyond which you might be restricted from work.
WebMB reports a temperature of 100.4°F or above is regarded as “having a fever.” Productions may have the same standard, or perhaps something lower than that temperature.
This is to say that just because you have a temperature of, say, 99.0°F, does not mean you aren’t permitted to go to work. What likely will also matter is whether you are or aren’t displaying additional signs of an infection, like fatigue, muscle pain, chills, cough, digestive issues like diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, and/or shortness of breath.
Those symptoms in combination with a higher temperature may be something to consider in whether you should not go to work on a production.
Buying a Digital Thermometer
Given that some productions may require you take your temperature before being admitted to work, it may be important for a stand-in to carry a digital thermometer — especially in the event the stand-in forgets to take a temperature reading before leaving for work.
Fortunately, digital thermometers are relatively inexpensive, with some under $10. They can be bought at many local drug stores as well as on the internet.
In comparing digital thermometers, we noticed the readings weren’t always consistent. So, we performed an informal test to show those differences.
Three Different Digital Thermometers, Three Different Temperature Readings
I tested two new digital thermometers against a third digital thermometer in my possession that was a few years old. These are the ones I tested orally:
- EXISTING: Walgreens Easy Read Flexible Digital Thermometer (apparently no longer made)
- NEW: Vicks Digital Thermometer, available at Rite Aid for about $9.99 (bought in-store)
- NEW: Boncare Digital Thermometer, available on Amazon.com for about $8.99 (bought online)
Of the new thermometers, Thermometer #2, the Vicks one, I chose among those in stock mostly because of its brand name as well as its general design.
#2 – Vicks Digital Thermometer (in case)
Thermometer #3, the Boncare one, I chose for the low cost and high number of positive ratings.
#3 – Boncare Digital Thermometer (in case)
I first received Thermometer #3, which I compared against Thermometer #1, the existing Walgreens one. #3 regularly registered my body temperature as considerably warmer than #1. This frightened me, because it made me think #3 might report my temperature as having a fever when my existing thermometer would not, possibly preventing me from qualifying for work that day.
That led me to believe that, despite the positive reviews, the Boncare thermometer might be a problem. So, I sought out a third thermometer (#2) at a local drug store. In comparing it with #3, it registered around the same as #3, or perhaps a little lower.
Today I performed an informal test comparing all three thermometers. I placed all three thermometers in my mouth at the same time, then waited a number of seconds before each registered a reading. While all of the alerts signaling the temperature was taken were not absolutely simultaneous, they did chirp within about one to two seconds of each other.
In this test, there was some measured variability in my body temperature. Here are the results of my tests.
Test 1
(Top to Bottom) #1 Walgreens, #2 Vicks, #3 Boncare
- 97.7°F
- 98.6°F
- 98.7°F
Test 2
(Top to Bottom) #1 Walgreens, #2 Vicks, #3 Boncare
- 97.6°F
- 98.2°F
- 97.9°F
Test 3
(Top to Bottom) #1 Walgreens, #2 Vicks, #3 Boncare
- 97.4°F
- 98.4°F
- 98.3°F
Averages
My existing thermometer, #1, averaged readings of 97.57°F.
The Vicks thermometer, #2, averaged readings of 98.40°F.
The Boncare thermometer, #3, averaged readings of 98.30°F.
As noted in Test 1, #1 reported a whole degree cooler than #3 and almost the same amount compared to #2. Similar results were reported in Test 3.
Reviews
I was relieved to see that the Vicks and the Boncare digital thermometers recorded about the same results. The existing Walgreens digital thermometer did seem to report cooler temperatures, which was more encouraging, but being that I was seeking a new digital thermometer and the Walgreens one seemed to be no longer available, it didn’t seem to be an option.
Of course, if the Walgreens one erroneously reports lower body temperature, theoretically that is a problem when someone is running a fever but the thermometer is not registering it as such.
Between the Vicks and the Boncare, I have opted to tote with me the Vicks thermometer. The Boncare is nice with its full case:
Boncare Digital Thermometer (outside case)
However, it has a chirp when it has registered a temperature that is so quiet, if someone is talking to you, even though it is close to your face you may not hear it. I read as much in the reviews and it was hard to believe it could make an alert so quiet as not to be heard, but that does seem to be the case. Of course, that may be advantageous when working on a set, but as temperatures will generally be taken not on set, the utility of such a quiet alert is low.
Granted, the case completely encloses the Boncare thermometer, which is a plus. However, that case may be difficult to clean as moisture builds up in it after a cleaning of the thermometer.
I opted for the Vicks thermometer because I could hear it when it registered a temperature and because its case wouldn’t trap moisture:
Vicks Digital Thermometer (outside case)
If you see a fuzzy circle, that is because the case does not lock in the thermometer when it is in its case. The thermometer can slip out, which means the tip can be exposed. So, to lock the Vicks thermometer into place, I affixed a piece of velcro to the case and to the back of the thermometer, away from the battery cover:
Vicks Digital Thermometer (back, with added velcro and personal identification)
So, when I slide the thermometer into its case, it stays securely in place, and is also easily removable.
I also added my initials in permanent marker on the thermometer and on the case, just in case there is a risk of getting it mixed up with someone else’s thermometer.
Why Going with a Thermometer That Records Lower Temperatures Makes Sense for the Stand-In
Of course, if you are a stand-in who is not ill, and if you’re recording a higher temperature, that is a potential problem for the stand-in because it could mean a loss of work for no valid reason.
Given the variability in readings among digital thermometers, it makes economical sense to go with a thermometer that regularly registers a lower body temperature rather than one that regularly registers a higher body temperature. This will tend to mean you are safety registering as far away from any temperature registered as “fever.”
Granted, this obviously makes sense to the stand-in to find a thermometer that registers lower temperatures on the whole. But for the production, this does not necessarily make sense.
It makes more sense for productions to take temperatures of their employees rather than to leave this to a trust system among employees, especially when there is a lack of economical incentive to stay home when feeling well but with a temperature. (In other words, if stand-ins don’t quality for pay when they are sick, they are more incentivized to go to work than to stay home, where they will not collect a paycheck.)
Additional Tips
When purchasing a digital thermometer, you may also want to purchase additional batteries.
Many digital thermometers seem to be powered by LR41 button batteries.
Conclusion
Things are still fluid with respect to working as a stand-in and the coronavirus-related requirements. Being ahead of the curve will help you manage stress as you return to stand-in work. So it may be wise to make sure you have a working thermometer not only in your possession, but also handy in case you forget to take your temperature before you leave for work. And make sure you have backup batteries!
Do you have additional recommendations around thermometers for stand-ins? Post your ideas in the comments below!
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