Not so long ago, we could use only mercury thermometers to measure body temperature , now electronic and even infrared devices have appeared that allow you to know the result in just a couple of seconds. Modern thermometers are very convenient, especially if the patient is a child who cannot sit quietly for ten minutes (namely, doctors recommend to keep a mercury thermometer in the armpit for so long), but in most cases they show the result with an error.
The most accurate measuring instruments are mercury thermometers. In addition, a medical mercury thermometer can be easily disinfected. To do this, it is only necessary to immerse in a special solution. Therefore, in hospitals and clinics from such devices will be refused very soon.
However, mercury is a dangerous substance, so you need to know how to dispose of mercury thermometers. Such a device is unlikely to just stop measuring temperature. This can only happen if the mercury thermometer crashes, which means that the
liquid metal has spilled.
Dangerous is not so much the mercury itself as the vapors released by it. They can cause severe poisoning, so you need to collect metal balls as quickly as possible. If you do not know how to dispose of mercury thermometers, it is best to call the Ministry of Emergencies, there they should give detailed instructions. Ideally, rescuers should come and carry out proper treatment of the home, but in reality this happens in rare cases (mainly in large cities).
How to dispose of mercury thermometers?
From the room in which the thermometer crashed, it is necessary to remove children, adults and animals so that they do not trample and do not smash the balls of mercury around the apartment. The door must be closed, and windows and windows should be opened if there is no draft and the room is warmer than on the street. Cold air will slow the evaporation process.
Now you need to proceed directly to the collection of toxic substances. You should protect yourself from contact with mercury by wearing rubber household gloves and shoe covers. Use a gauze dressing dipped in cold water to prevent inhalation of fumes.
Large balls of mercury are easily assembled with two sheets of paper, a scoop and a brush or shaving brush, a medical pear or a syringe without a needle. Do not use a broom; its hard rods will divide mercury into tiny particles. And collecting small balls is difficult, you have to tinker. To do this, you need tape, plasticine, adhesive, wet cotton wool. Do not use a vacuum cleaner! Mercury will remain inside the device, so it will have to be thrown away. Clothing and carpet, if mercury gets on them, will also need to be disposed of.
All collected mercury must be placed in a glass container with cold water and tightly closed with a lid. All objects that came into contact with her must be collected and wrapped in plastic film or placed in a bag and closed. Places where poisonous metal has fallen must be washed several times with a soap or potassium permanganate solution, and the room should be thoroughly ventilated.
Now you know how to dispose of mercury thermometers, it remains to find out where to put the jar with the poisonous substance? To do this, you will have to call different authorities. It is possible that you will not achieve a clear answer. In any case, it is extremely dangerous to throw mercury and all objects that you used during cleaning into the garbage chute, burn them or let liquid metal down the drain.