Where to throw a mercury thermometer and where to dispose of mercury from a broken thermometer

Thermometer - this is an indispensable thing for every person, but when using it you need to be extremely careful. However, it is not uncommon for a person to lose a thermometer by carelessness or because of an innocent childish prank. Then there are logical questions: what needs to be done in this situation and where to expire the thermometer?

Than mercury is dangerous?

Mercury, and to be more precise, its vapors are dangerous for human life. A substance from a broken thermometer usually enters the body in two ways: either through the mouth or through the inhalation of toxic fumes. The first option is rare, except that a small child decides to taste the funny "silver balls".In this case, your actions should be instantaneous. Immediately cause the baby to vomit and dial the emergency number. Otherwise, the consequences can be sad.

But the second option is a common phenomenon, and it happens most often because of the banal negligence and unwillingness or ignorance of how and where to use the broken thermometer correctly.

As a result, a person receives mercury poisoning. The danger also lies in the fact that at first to determine whether a substance has got into the body or not, it is practically impossible, since poisoning can last for a long time without visible symptoms. Later there is irritability, increased fatigue, a sharp weight loss. As a rule, many write it off on a busy schedule and difficult work. However, at this time, mercury slowly reaches the central nervous system and kidneys.

Important!

The broken thermometer must be cleaned as quickly and carefully as possible, and it should be done correctly, without neglecting the rules of personal safety.

What if a mercury thermometer crashed?

What should be your actions, if you broke a thermometer, where do you need to pass it after and how to remove traces of mercury correctly? If this situation occurs, do not panic, follow the instructions below and everything will be all right.

1. Open the window or window, but always close the door to the neighboring rooms so that the poisonous vapors do not spread around the house. The time of airing is from one hour or more.
2. Do not go too far to the place of the "accident", mercury easily spreads and sticks to the soles. By negligence, you can smash a dangerous substance around the room.
3. Before you start cleaning and throwing out mercury, take care of your personal safety. Put rubber gloves on your hands, protect your feet with plastic bags. Do not forget about the respiratory organs, to protect them, use a bandage soaked in soda.
4. Prepare a glass jar with cold water, where you will collect mercury. Water is necessary, it will not allow mercury to evaporate.
5. Carefully, without fuss and panic, collect as much as possible a poisonous substance. More often poisonings are due to negligent attitude, so to not get yourself unnecessary care, take this process seriously.
   

   Advice

   The smallest mercury balls can be removed using an adhesive tape, plasticine or syringe.

   If the collection of a toxic substance is delayed, then do not forget to go out into the street every 15 minutes, otherwise you will earn mercury poisoning.

6. Tighten the cover of the jar with mercury, do not allow it to be near heating appliances. The bank is strictly forbidden to throw out!

Where and how to deliver mercury?

So, let's say, you have already successfully coped with the task of removing the thermometer and collected all the mercury. What to do next, because to keep a poisonous substance at home is not safe? Where can I put the container or just throw it away and forget it? In no case!

If you broke a thermometer, removed mercury according to the instructions above, your next action should be a call to the MOE, where you have to report the incident. After the brigade arrives, you need to hand them a jar of substance, as well as a thermometer and all the materials you used for cleaning: gloves, syringes, bags, etc. The duties of the Ministry of Emergency Situations include mandatory disinfection of the premises.

After disinfection, pay attention to your health, even if you are sure that mercury has not affected you. For prophylaxis, take a weak solution of potassium permanganate and rinse them with the mouth cavity, throat, brush your teeth. Also it does not hurt to take several tablets of activated carbon. The next couple of days, use as much pure water as possible, since all mercury formations are effectively excreted through the kidneys.

If you are sure that you have been able to completely clean the room of mercury yourself, then you can avoid calling the command of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Where in this case it is necessary to hand over a poisonous substance?

Take a jar of mercury, as well as a thermometer and all the appliances that were used during the cleaning process, the clothes that were on you( if suspected of getting mercury on it).All this should be handed over to a special enterprise that is engaged in the disposal of mercury-containing waste. And, again, after that, do not forget to take care of your personal health, it's better to be safe than to suffer later. Be sure to ventilate the room well by opening the window.

Where can I take a bank of mercury if you do not have similar facilities nearby? You can contact the organization that distributes various medications. As a rule, they must have available special containers for the disposal of mercury-containing and other life-threatening chemical waste. In order to find out if there are such organizations in your settlement, contact the Help Desk.

If this item is not suitable for you, then you can take the thermometer to the state pharmacy or Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. There you will need to fill out a special application. According to the law, these institutions do not have the right to refuse and must accept the things you brought.

What is strongly discouraged if you break a thermometer?

If you have broken a thermometer, be careful, do not act rashly, because without knowing it, you can significantly aggravate the situation and get a serious mercury poisoning.

So, what in this case should not be done?

• In the room where the accident occurred, you can not make a draft until the mercury is collected.
• When cleaning the substance, do not use a broom, this will only aggravate the situation and carry mercury balls all over the surface. It is also not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner, as it helps poisonous fumes spread throughout the room.
• It is absolutely forbidden to wash or wash things in the sink, washing machine, used for cleaning the substance. They must be handed over together with the collected mercury.

A mercury thermometer should always be handled with care. Keep it only in a safe place, using a special capsule, and do not give it to children, as most often it's the little curious babies that cause the worries that have emerged from the parents - a broken mercury thermometer. Of course, it's better not to allow such a situation, but even if you have to deal with a similar problem, you know how to protect your health and where to put the mercury balls.