Mercury thermometer is a necessary medical tool for every family, but there is mercury in this traditional thermometer, and mercury is a volatile poison. What should I do if I accidentally break the thermometer and cause the mercury to flow out?
1、 What about breaking the thermometer
1. First turn off all indoor heating devices and open windows for ventilation.
2. Then put on gloves and collect the mercury with a piece of paper. Pay attention to checking the whole room. If the room is dark, shine with a flashlight close to the ground to see if there are reflective beads.
3. If the mercury drop is large, it can be rolled into a cylinder with paper, or collected with tin foil, adhesive tape paper and wet cotton stick, and the mercury drop can be loaded into a sealed bottle.
4. When the mercury drops are scattered in the gap or very fine, sprinkle some sulfur powder on it (generally available in pharmacies). The reaction of sulfur and mercury can produce mercury sulfide that is not easily soluble in water, and the harm will be greatly reduced. And the color changes from yellow to brown so that it can be identified and collected. Be careful not to inhale sulfur powder.
5. If possible, a small electric fan can be used to blow at the place where mercury droplets may be left, so as to promote the volatilization of mercury droplets as soon as possible.
6. Wash the ground polluted by mercury with 5% ~ 10% ferric chloride or 10% bleaching powder solution.
7. If the mercury drops are scattered on the bedding and clothes, the mercury drops shall be found out as soon as possible and treated according to the above methods, and the contaminated bedding and clothes shall be fully dried in the sun.
8. Finally, put the plastic bag containing mercury beads, cleaning materials and gloves into the garbage bag and ask the environmental protection department how to discard them.
2、 If the mercury thermometer leaks, do not:
1. You must not touch it with your hand, because if there is a wound on your hand, Mercury will enter your body with the wound, and the consequences are unimaginable.
2. Do not use a vacuum cleaner to suck, which will float mercury into the air and increase the risk of being inhaled by the human body.
3. Do not attempt to remove mercury with a broom. This causes mercury to break into beads and roll everywhere.
4. Do not throw mercury into the toilet or sink and flush it into the sewer. This will cause pollution.
5. If clothes are in direct contact with mercury, do not wash them in the washing machine, which will pollute the washing machine or sewer. Clothes should be discarded.
6. If the sole is stained with mercury, do not walk around in it, so as not to expand the scope of pollution.
7. Because Mercury can evaporate into a gaseous state at room temperature, it is easy to be sucked into the respiratory tract and cause poisoning. Therefore, it is best to wear a mask when dealing with the scattered mercury.
8. If the wound encounters mercury, it shall be checked in the poisoning prevention and Control Department of the hospital, and treatment shall be carried out in case of poisoning.
The above method is also applicable when the sphygmomanometer containing mercury is broken. Again, be sure to open the window for ventilation. Don't pick it up directly by hand. Remember.