Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer

Crash Symptoms Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer are fairly pronounced and can be noticed in time if you know what they are. Not all are suitable for the use of modern electronic thermometers, since the temperature on them is sometimes shown not to match our usual notions, and mercury thermometers are more convenient for the reason that we are "so used to."But the main problem with conventional thermometers is that with careless handling or intense shaking, they literally slip out of the hands, drop and balls of liquid mercury roll on the floor and the glass of medicine glass lies. Although it is highly discouraged to remove the remnants of the broken device with one's own hands, and even without the means of protection, many are afraid to call special services and are accepted for work independently. After that, the question arises quite logically which symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer.

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What is mercury?

Mercury is a chemical element from a group of heavy metals. In its composition, it includes a combination of salts and oxides, with the very toxic ones being the very first.

The question is whether it is possible to poison mercury by breaking a thermometer, quite appropriate. But you can answer it yourself, if you know how mercury penetrates into the body. There are different ways:

1. Through the skin. Such a development of events will arise if you collect this heavy metal from a broken thermometer with your bare hands. The process of negative impact will be rather slow, but it still has a place to be.
2. Through the mucous membranes. A very dangerous situation if mercury gets into the eyes or is swallowed. In the first case, the drops can simply fly into your eyes if the thermometer broke on the surface just below them. In the second - of course, an adult is unlikely to intentionally use this chemical substance, but a small child can be attracted to beautiful rolling droplets on the floor. In this situation, a toxic liver poisoning reaction occurs, and quickly enough.
3. After inhalation of vapor or direct contact with blood. Such a variant of infection can occur if the thermometer does not fly out of your hands, and you hit it hard on a closely located hard surface and splinters cut your hands. The inhalation of vapors occurs if you have not used a mask or a respirator and have long removed the remnants of the liquid substance. In this case, the symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer do not take long to wait.

Important! The version that mercury thermometers are safe are mistaken. One device for measuring the temperature of a person's body usually contains about 2 g of matter. Half of this amount is a serious threat to health - this poisoning causes death. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer, immediately call an ambulance. Better yet - immediately leave the room after an unpleasant situation and call a special service to disinfect your home.

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Symptoms of mercury poisoning

Acute forms of poisoning are observed less frequently than sluggish, but persistent poisoning of the whole organism. Therefore, if you notice any signs of a malaise shortly after the accident, carefully consider your feelings and correlate them with the list of symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer. These include:

• growing headaches;
• a feeling of sustained lethargy and fatigue combined with an ever-increasing irritability;
• confusion;
• tremor of extremities or a condition of cramps;
• presence of metallic taste in the mouth and increased salivation;
• disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, proceeding in the form of rapid, liquid stool, vomiting, nausea;
• development of noninfectious pneumonia with subsequent attacks of hemoptysis.

Important! The combination of symptoms can be different - it all depends on the person's age, physical condition, body weight. But in any case, you should pay attention to the presence of malaise. Otherwise, inaction can cause pulmonary edema and suffocation, hepatic and renal insufficiency.

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How to treat mercury poisoning?

If you could not avoid getting the substance inside and the symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer made itself felt, act urgently. Usually doctors recommend such therapy:

1. Thorough washing of all mucous membranes.
2. Purification of the stomach with a solution of potassium permanganate - exclusively through the probe, in order to prevent damage to the digestive system even more with the return movement of heavy metal.
3. Introduction of an antidote - intravenously and intramuscularly. Usually the drug "Unitiol" is used.
4. Conduction of hemodialysis.
5. Reception of sorbents - at least 4 times a day.

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Quick action scheme for mercury removal from the accident site

To minimize the risk of symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer, you should keep the "light" head and act according to this algorithm:

1. Urgently remove all from the room in which the thermometer crashed. Do not panic.
2. Close the windows and doors so that the draft does not spread metal all over the room or into the corridor.
3. Wear a protective mask - even a gauze bandage is suitable.
4. Put shoe covers on your feet - if not, usual small plastic bags, and rubber gloves on your hands.
5. Do not forget to wear glasses, but better with clear glasses.
6. Armed with a glass container with a tight-fitting lid, sheets of paper and adhesive tape. Sheets or plasters collect balls.
7. Quickly place them in a glass jar.
8. Let another member of your family at this time call the rescue service and call specialists to handle the room from mercury and its disposal.
9. Tightly close the container with drops of liquid metal, pack in plastic bags all the items on which you collected them, as well as self-protection, it is desirable to change clothes.
10. Rinse hands thoroughly with running water, face.

Now you know exactly what symptoms of mercury poisoning can occur with a broken thermometer and what a similar situation can lead to. In any case, keep calm and immediately seek the help of specialists. Henceforth, more accurately measure your temperature.