Difference between revisions of "Get a Sick Day off from School Without Going to the Doctor"
(importing article from wikihow) |
m (Update ref tag) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Setting the Scene=== | ===Setting the Scene=== | ||
| − | #Pick the right ailment. If you want to stay home but avoid a trip to the doctor, you have to choose a sickness that’s not too severe. You'll have to feign an illness that can only be cured by staying at home and avoiding any hard work, (like going to school)! <ref>http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/12-tips-prevent-colds-flu-1</ref> | + | #Pick the right ailment. If you want to stay home but avoid a trip to the doctor, you have to choose a sickness that’s not too severe. You'll have to feign an illness that can only be cured by staying at home and avoiding any hard work, (like going to school)! <ref name="rf1">http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/12-tips-prevent-colds-flu-1</ref> |
#*A stomach virus is a good choice because it leaves you unable to go to class but isn’t necessarily severe enough to call for medical attention. | #*A stomach virus is a good choice because it leaves you unable to go to class but isn’t necessarily severe enough to call for medical attention. | ||
| − | #*The most awful symptoms of a stomach virus include diarrhea, vomiting and cramps.<ref>http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/diarrhea-stomach-flu</ref> | + | #*The most awful symptoms of a stomach virus include diarrhea, vomiting and cramps.<ref name="rf2">http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/diarrhea-stomach-flu</ref> |
#*A fever also works because it makes a good excuse to stay home but usually just requires a little rest and relaxation. | #*A fever also works because it makes a good excuse to stay home but usually just requires a little rest and relaxation. | ||
| − | #*Fever signs and symptoms might include sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dehydration and general weakness. <ref>http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/symptoms/con-20019229</ref> | + | #*Fever signs and symptoms might include sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dehydration and general weakness. <ref name="rf3">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/basics/symptoms/con-20019229</ref> |
#Complain about the ailment. People don’t generally get sick all of a sudden, so you'll have to begin feeling bad the day before you want to stay home and let your guardians know about it. | #Complain about the ailment. People don’t generally get sick all of a sudden, so you'll have to begin feeling bad the day before you want to stay home and let your guardians know about it. | ||
#*Tell your guardians that you’re not feeling your best. You can do this by saying some key phrases like: | #*Tell your guardians that you’re not feeling your best. You can do this by saying some key phrases like: | ||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
#Don’t overly stress your performance! If you want to stay home without going to the doctor, you have to convey that you’re sick but not sick enough to need medical care. | #Don’t overly stress your performance! If you want to stay home without going to the doctor, you have to convey that you’re sick but not sick enough to need medical care. | ||
#*Avoid suddenly showing all of your symptoms at once. | #*Avoid suddenly showing all of your symptoms at once. | ||
| − | #*Pretending to vomit may make your guardians concerned enough to bring you to the doctor, so it’s best to stick to feigning the other two symptoms. <ref>http://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/best-remedies-stomach-flu</ref> | + | #*Pretending to vomit may make your guardians concerned enough to bring you to the doctor, so it’s best to stick to feigning the other two symptoms. <ref name="rf4">http://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/best-remedies-stomach-flu</ref> |
#*Avoid showing only the symptoms that you know your guardians usually treat with medication, like a headache. | #*Avoid showing only the symptoms that you know your guardians usually treat with medication, like a headache. | ||
===Playing it Right=== | ===Playing it Right=== | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
=== Making Yourself Seem Sick === | === Making Yourself Seem Sick === | ||
#Feign tiredness. Generally, being sick is really taxing on your body! Your body works hard to fight off stomach viruses and other fever-causing ailments so you'll need to show your guardians that your body is hard at work because you're "really" sick. | #Feign tiredness. Generally, being sick is really taxing on your body! Your body works hard to fight off stomach viruses and other fever-causing ailments so you'll need to show your guardians that your body is hard at work because you're "really" sick. | ||
| − | #*Some well-known symptoms of a fever include body aches, fatigue and muscle weakness. <ref>http://www.everydayhealth.com/symptom-checker/fever</ref> | + | #*Some well-known symptoms of a fever include body aches, fatigue and muscle weakness. <ref name="rf5">http://www.everydayhealth.com/symptom-checker/fever</ref> |
#*You can show that your tired by moving slower than normal, laying down on the couch or resting your head on the table at dinner. | #*You can show that your tired by moving slower than normal, laying down on the couch or resting your head on the table at dinner. | ||
| − | #*When you’re tired, your body temperature may drop slightly causing you to feel colder than normal. Get a blanket that’s heavier than normal to put over yourself when you’re sitting on the couch. <ref>http://scicurious.scientopia.org/2010/01/04/sleep-deprivation-gives-me-the-chills/</ref> | + | #*When you’re tired, your body temperature may drop slightly causing you to feel colder than normal. Get a blanket that’s heavier than normal to put over yourself when you’re sitting on the couch. <ref name="rf6">http://scicurious.scientopia.org/2010/01/04/sleep-deprivation-gives-me-the-chills/</ref> |
#Feign a temperature increase. If you know that your guardians will want to touch your face or use a thermometer to check for a fever, you first need to elevate your body temperature. | #Feign a temperature increase. If you know that your guardians will want to touch your face or use a thermometer to check for a fever, you first need to elevate your body temperature. | ||
| − | #*A fever is also known as a “high temperature.” You have a fever when your temperature rises above its normal range, which is about 98.6 F (37 C). <ref>http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/fevers-causes-symptoms-treatments</ref> | + | #*A fever is also known as a “high temperature.” You have a fever when your temperature rises above its normal range, which is about 98.6 F (37 C). <ref name="rf7">http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/fevers-causes-symptoms-treatments</ref> |
#*Depending on what's causing your fever, additional fever signs and symptoms might include: | #*Depending on what's causing your fever, additional fever signs and symptoms might include: | ||
#**Sweating | #**Sweating | ||
| Line 54: | Line 54: | ||
#**Loss of appetite | #**Loss of appetite | ||
#**Dehydration | #**Dehydration | ||
| − | #**General weakness <ref | + | #**General weakness <ref name="rf3" /> |
#*Pretending you have an increased body temperature should be done by demonstrating that you have the symptoms of a fever and by showing that you have above-average body temperature. | #*Pretending you have an increased body temperature should be done by demonstrating that you have the symptoms of a fever and by showing that you have above-average body temperature. | ||
#Increase your body temperature. You want your face looks red and to feel hot to the touch. | #Increase your body temperature. You want your face looks red and to feel hot to the touch. | ||
| Line 70: | Line 70: | ||
#*Rub the tip of the thermometer with your fingers. The faster you move your fingers, the faster the thermometer will heat up to the temperature you want. | #*Rub the tip of the thermometer with your fingers. The faster you move your fingers, the faster the thermometer will heat up to the temperature you want. | ||
#*If you have a heat source nearby, like a light bulb, put the thermometer next to it for a few moments. | #*If you have a heat source nearby, like a light bulb, put the thermometer next to it for a few moments. | ||
| − | #*If your thermometer is one with mercury inside, then you can also raise the temperature by soaking it in hot water. Make sure that the water isn't boiling hot, as this could cause the mercury thermometer to explode. The water temperature should only be a few degrees hotter than your body temperature, around 99.5F. <ref>health.http://health.onehowto.com/article/how-to-fake-a-fever-fast-752.html</ref> | + | #*If your thermometer is one with mercury inside, then you can also raise the temperature by soaking it in hot water. Make sure that the water isn't boiling hot, as this could cause the mercury thermometer to explode. The water temperature should only be a few degrees hotter than your body temperature, around 99.5F. <ref name="rf8">health.http://health.onehowto.com/article/how-to-fake-a-fever-fast-752.html</ref> |
===Making it All Count=== | ===Making it All Count=== | ||
| − | #Gather supplies. Like any actor, you'll need some props to show your guardians that your symptoms are persistent and aren’t going away.<ref>https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003091.htm</ref> | + | #Gather supplies. Like any actor, you'll need some props to show your guardians that your symptoms are persistent and aren’t going away.<ref name="rf9">https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003091.htm</ref> |
#*Hide a cup of water somewhere by your bed. This will be used at night to really convince your guardians that you are sweating. | #*Hide a cup of water somewhere by your bed. This will be used at night to really convince your guardians that you are sweating. | ||
#*If you have an electric tea kettle that won’t be noticed if missing, that’s even better than a cup of water. This way, you will be able to show that you’re both hot and sweating. | #*If you have an electric tea kettle that won’t be noticed if missing, that’s even better than a cup of water. This way, you will be able to show that you’re both hot and sweating. | ||
