Hair dresser wouldn't let me in!!

[missmcfee]

Had an appointment booked today and I've been looking forward to it for months.

On arrival I had to have my temperature taken and was told it was too high to be allowed in.

I laughed as I assumed she was joking since I felt fine, I Wfh and haven't been anywhere!!
Not even a supermarket.

She told me it was 37.3 and she would have to cancel my appointment!!!!

I am so upset, I've had to rebook and she has nothing for 8 weeks 😣

I called the Dr as I thought I must be coming down with something without knowing, but the GP told me that this was a normal range temperature and particularly for that time of day (app was 3pm)

So what wasn't I allowed in 😢

I felt like a kid at Christmas today going to the salon, I cried all the way home that my appointment was cancelled! 😖

We’re a multinational corporation; everything we do is thoroughly checked and regulated and run past many lawyers and authorities before it’s approved

Based in the Arctic by any chance?

I think you forgot your pills this morning hun.

@Lindy2

37.3 would be a raised temperature for me and would mean I wasn't fully well. I have in the past felt quite poorly at only 37.1. My normal healthy temperature is 36.6 like the vast majority of people.

I don't blame her for refusing to take an unnecessary risk to her health and her business. Your haircut, although important to you, isn't important enough to anyone else for them to just take a guess that actually you are ok. You might not be.

You say your temperature had fallen half an hour later. It could equally well have risen in that time. The problem is no one knows in advance.

She was correct to be cautious - we are in the middle of a truly horrible global pandemic.

You either need to rebook or go elsewhere.

As a customer I'd much rather attend a cautious setting than one that is not so stringent. It would make me feel safer.

Why do you think your temperature = the temperature of the vast majority of people? If that was true, the normal range would reflect that. But it doesn't. Your temperature is closer to the average for an old person. You may well be over 65. For under 65s the average range starts at 36.4 and runs to 37.5 or so. Op might be a lot younger than you.

Please don’t get this business a bad review.
I wouldn’t be allowing an under the tongue temp reading. That sounds gross, not just for covid.
Either wait for 8 weeks or go elsewhere. I wouldn’t ask to be moved up the line. Crying and calling your GP is ott. I’m amazed you get to speak to a GP tbh.

DD has had every jab at secondary school refused by the school nurse team because her temp was over 37 degrees when they took it. Every time I have had to make a catch up appointment- at which they have never taken her temperature And they just write the reason for rejection on a slip of paper so no where in her records does it say "wears a thick jumper in all weathers and always has a temp over 37." I just get a call saying they can't give her the jags because she's ill and then I go to pick up a perfectly healthy child who just has a body temp of about 37.2.

Heartsoncake, if you take temperatures by ear, normal is around a degree higher than it would be for under the tongue thermometers, so around 37.5 degrees. It sounds as if there's something wrong with your equipment.

I wouldn’t be allowing an under the tongue temp reading. That sounds gross

The thermometer had a fresh, disposable cover on it.

OP, it might be worth a friendly note sending the hairdressers a copy of NHS guidance. They are going to find themselves with an awful lot of cancelled appointments if they don't revise their criteria to normal limits.

The salon is just protecting its staff. Yes, it's disappointing but I think it's just one of those things we all just have to "suck up" until everything settles down.

Sounds like a one-size fit all, slightly "body-fascist" policy, which will cost them customers (they might even be in breach of the Equality Act by accident, as this sounds, potentially, like indirect discrimination on the ground of age, sex and/or disability).

People are different. What's a low-grade fever for someone is a normal temperature for someone else. Body temperature in women depends a lot on perfectly natural hormonal fluctuations (basal body temperature, hot flushes? Doesn't every female know about these?). Besides, thermometers are not 100% accurate. 37.5 would be a much more sensible cut-off point, from a medical perspective. I don't expect hair-dressers to be medical experts, ... and neither should the government. Everyone and their dog making up their own health and safety policies is a recipe for disaster. The official national guidelines should be a lot more specific to avoid this kind of ill-informed overzealousness.

The likely outcome of an overly strict policy like that hairdresser's, is that customers with a naturally high body temperature will start taking paracetamol before attending... Not helpful to be too strict, it reduces genuine compliance, people start looking for loopholes and their overall respect for the rules diminishes.

Of course it's a "one size fits all" policy. They aren't privy to your personal medical history and comprehensive chart of Your body temperature over the last 6 months.

Arghh if they do this to me at mine on Sunday I'll be refused too. My temp is always high, I get nervous and hot- especially at hairdressers as I have social anxiety! I don't think this should be the way to do it at all.

It’s ridiculous that they are using an under the tongue thermometer. Even with a fresh cap on it every time, it poses a greater risk than a forehead scanning or ear thermometer as you have to open your mouth close to someone else. At my DC’s school they use a forehead scanner AND the child and teacher taking the temperature both wear masks. Much, much safer. I would definitely find another hairdresser OP.

And for the nurse further up the thread that suggested anything over 37 is a temperature, mine always averages at between 37.2-37.4. What do you suggest I do about it?!!!!

I think 37.3 is on the edge of normal , and clearly it’s the hairdressers decision and she’s playing cautious.

However I think you need to find another hairdresser, because this is going to happen then next time too, and if your temp is at the same level she will refuse entry again.

Sounds like they've misunderstood the difference between average and normal range and made the average, the cut-off. Their business, their prerogative to take that approach I guess, but v frustrating for you.

Temperature fluctuates within the normal range during the day and for women, during the menstrual cycle. It's usually slightly higher in the afternoon and also in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation. Book the next appointment for 9 am in week 2 of your cycle! (and maybe at a different salon depending how annoyed you still feel)

@heartsonacake

Just not the "best" people taking temperatures then.

PhilCornwall1 Actually only management are allowed to take temperatures to ensure it’s done, but it’s really irrelevant who takes it. You can’t possibly do it wrong; you point at the forehead and shoot 😂

The temperatures we see are within acceptable guidelines. Like I said, were a multinational corporation; all bases are covered.

I think you may have a temperature 🤣

If the thermometer you are using frequently gives regular human temperatures at between 33 and 35 degrees then it is faulty, and you are putting your staff/customers at risk by instilling a false sense of reassurance.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. I would have been properly peeved too, especially if I’d waited a long time for that appt, which I imagine you have.

I did basal body temp Measuring for a while for fertility reasons and at 37.3 I would say that isn’t a fever at all - the only way to know is to use an accurate thermometer. Measure temp at the same time every day. And believe me your temp fluctuates a lot depending on the time of day, how active you’ve been, when you last ate and drank, and for women, where you are in your cycle.

Oral thermometer. In a pandemic. Taken by people with no medical or infection control training? That’s quite frightening before you get to the part of people being unable to interpret temperatures ranges taking into account the device/location.

And as for the multinational having all bases covered: I work in the pharmaceutical industry and can tell you that despite being a multinational, a string of lawyers being involved, a high percentage of the workforce being medics, a state of the art occupational health department that we have just had a monumental fuck up around PPE.

OP I get why you were upset. You did nothing wrong. Try and put it behind you.

A complaint doesn’t have to be awkward or formal - it can just be a brief, friendly chat.

If the hairdresser did make an error (by their own criteria) and can’t offer you an earlier appointment, they could possibly offer to add you on the waiting list or add a treatment to your service etc in the interests of customer service. Your hairdresser wouldn’t want to lose a loyal client over an error, as with a further 2 month wait after the months of salon closures, even loyal clients are likely to go elsewhere.

Temperature is not fool proof anyway.

I’ve had covid. Tested positive.

Started coughing on the Monday but thought it was just my usual acid reflux induced cough as I’d forgotten my meds.

It riding for away after two days of taking them properly but my temp was still around 35.8. Cough got worse but still no temperature.

Lost my sense of taste and smell on the Thursday and got a hot breathless - still 36.1

Got tested on the Friday

Was only on the Sunday - a week after symptoms started - that I threw a temperature over 38 (it went up to nearly 40 at one point)

By Tuesday I was fine.

So for a week I had covid with no temperature

I went to visit my son in supported living last week. My temp showed 37.9! She said - don’t worry, it often does that, retook it and it was 36.5!

I agree though that 37.3 is at the top end of the normal range. Maybe point this out in a helpful way - she would have lost money that day too. If you live nearby maybe you could ask to be put on a cancellation list?

@seven201

"The first thing I did when I got in the car was google temperature range and it was clear 37.3 wasn't a cause for concern" Why did you then call the doctor?

It sounds like the hairdresser has chosen a cut off that is perhaps a bit lower than it should be. I get that you're disappointed but I think crying and ringing the doctor is overreacting. The hairdressers are just following their own very new policy and finding their feet. Have some cold drinks before you go next time.

I called the Dr because the hairdresser told me that they hadn't turned anyone away since opening and it made me feel incredibly paranoid that my temperature was 37.3 I did panic a little as it all seemed very scary not being let in to have your hair done due to temperature!!

YANBU
37.1 - 37.3 is normal for me.
Guidelines clearly state that anything over 37.5 is classed as a raised temperature.

I had to have my temperature taken when I went for a hospital appointment. My temperature at the time of arrival was 37.5

The nurse said ‘How are you feeling? Have you been rushing to get here?’ (Yes! Running late as usual!) She took my temperature again 5 mins later and it was 37.2.
She didn’t turn me away and said It was quite normal and that many people get hot and bothered before appointments rushing around. She said it plays havoc with blood pressure readings too!

I’m sorry you were turned away. I’m not surprised you are upset. I have an appointment tomorrow and would feel the same as you. My hair is a mess.

No doubt the hairdresser thought they were doing what is right but they have got it wrong.
Find another hairdresser!

I wonder how this works with menopausal women.

This exactly.

This happened to me last week when I took my daughter for her 8 week jabs and our checks at the doctors. It was a hot day, I was wearing a mask and I was holding a baby. My temp was 37.1 and they wouldn't let me in. I do understand why they did it but they should maybe recheck in a few mins as temps fluctuate so much. I checked it when I got home and it was 36.6 as normal. When the doctor rang me to rearrange he said forehead thormeters are unreliable and only the ear ones are accurate

I'm going to hold a cold compress on my head before I go anywhere. I'm peri menopausal and also fluster a lot.

Fuck this.

Life is a massive pain in the bum. Everything is so much effort now. I thoufbt anything between 36.6 and 37.6 was normal.

Plus surely if you are abit anxious and the weather's warmer you will be warmer.

I'd be frustrated too. Bluddy coronavirus has made us all stop living in so many ways. Even now things are open everything is taking so much longer and is way more complicated.

Hope you are ok op. You are getting jumped on unfairly. You wasn't poorly and your temperature was fine.