They are also safe, since they can withstand temperature extremes without breaking. Where to get powdered sulfur? What should I do if broken mercury thermometer. If you do NOT see the words “mercury free," then assume that the liquid is mercury. If your spill is greater than the amount in a thermometer, then visit our What to Do if You Spill More Mercury than the Amount in a Thermometer page. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Consult your local environmental or health agency to inquire about contractors in your area. Note: Mercury can move surprising distances on hard-flat surfaces, so be sure to inspect the entire room, including any cracks in the floor, when searching. Slowly and carefully squeeze mercury onto a damp paper towel. How to Dispose of a Mercury Thermometer. Locate visible mercury beads. This is especially convenient for parents with young children since it does not require rectal or oral placement. Therefore, new standards mean that their manufacturing is no longer allowed and most national agencies have been lobbying for their total ban. He spit out mercury and pieces of glass. Take a flashlight, hold it at a low angle close to the floor in a darkened room and look for additional glistening beads of mercury that may be sticking to the surface or in small cracked areas of the surface. You can sign in to vote the answer. One new device is the Temple Touch Thermometer. Is the liquid in the thermometer any color other than silver? Place all broken objects on a paper towel. United States Environmental Protection Agency. $8.67 $ 8. Metallic taste in the mouth. Warnings. NOTE: These instructions also apply to spills from other sources if the amount spilled is less than or similar to the amount in a thermometer (see specific information about how to clean up broken fluorescent bulbs). The thermometer is used orally and contains Galinstan, which is a patented, Earth-friendly non-toxic substitute for mercury. Fold the paper towel and place in a zip locking bag. This depends individually on the person and their immune system. Use the eyedropper to collect or draw up the mercury beads. It makes the mercury easier to see since there may be a color change from yellow to brown; and. Since they’re made from glass, mercury thermometers may break easily, allowing toxic mercury to escape. The mercury can easily penetrate into the pile of carpets, in cracks of floors, in the gap between the baseboard and the floor. THERMOMETER ORAL MERCURY FREE 1EA R.G. An official website of the United States government. The sulfur binds to the mercury and makes clean-up easier. If you have a mercury thermometer, replace it with a digital thermometer. At times, mercury can be used to treat cancer, although studies on the methods are still ongoing. A broken mercury thermometer should be handled as an emergency situation requiring immediate attention. Place all materials used with the cleanup, including gloves, in a trash bag. Use slow sweeping motions to keep mercury from becoming uncontrollable. Question: : The other day, I had a fever and was taking my temperature. Mercury thermometers should never be accessible by infants or children. Still have questions? Cleanup and disposal after breaking a thermometer In a mercury thermometer, a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is marked on the tube. The mercury-free Geratherm Thermometer is an environmentally friendly, easy-to-read thermometer that provides clinical accuracy in a display that can be changed to read in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. 3 Page 1 of 6 SECTION 1: Identification of the substance/mixture and of the Manufacturer Chemical Name: Mercury, Hg (CAS No: 7439-97-6) Manufacturer Product Name: Mercury In Glass Thermometer Recommended uses of the chemical/product: Mercury … Place all broken objects on a paper towel. If the thermometer breaks, the mercury may be breathed in or absorbed (soaked) into your skin. 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Additionally, users should read and understand product information before use. If there are any broken pieces of glass or sharp objects, pick them up with care. If you have questions about the potential health effects after being exposed to a broken thermometer, then please call your physician or your local poison control center at 1 (800) 222-1222. Consider this: Seafood has been criticized for it's occasionally high levels of mercury, yet everyone who eats seafood doesn't get cancer. Only cut and remove the affected portion of the contaminated carpet for disposal. Get your answers by asking now. Pharmacists may also have it. Because the mercury is only contained by the glass, they can easily break and have the potential to cause fatal risks to those around them. you might want to check out the link below! It binds the mercury so that it can be easily removed and suppresses the vapor of any missing mercury. EPA recommends that consumers use mercury-free thermometers, but not does not endorse, recommend, certify, authorize or approve of any specific brand of mercury-free thermometer. Considering we put these thermometers in our mouth and other parts of the body, the risk is heightened even further. The volume of mercury in a thermometer is very small. About half an hour ago my 4 year old son broke the mercury thermometer in his mouth . More Buying Choices $16.04 (3 new offers) Elemental mercury has poor gastrointestinal absorption and is eliminated in faeces. Place the paper towel in a zip locking bag and secure. This method is fairly reliable as it was often used in hospitals, etc. you should check back with a doctor anyways, because maybe the mercury is slowly killing you on the inside, but i dont think anything is wrong wit u cuz its been 10 yrs. Instead, put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves and carefully pick up broken glass or plastic with a paper towel. If a mercury thermometer breaks or leaks, it can release toxic vapors. It provides a digital readout in 6 seconds. Place the paint brush or duct tape in a zip locking bag and secure. Such thermometers use a metal probe to sense temperature. Clean a broken mercury thermometer from smooth surfaces. I think the first person is mostly right, but I also know it stays in the body forever. They may also cause cuts or glass splinters if they break. You might be fine, just be REALLY careful about more mercury inside you. If sickness occurs, seek medical attention immediately. I can't guarantee the one that broke in your mouth was not mercury, but there is a high chance it was and you assumed it was mercury. Secure the bag and label it as directed by your local health or fire department. Mercury In Glass Thermometer Safety Data Sheet Effective date: May 29, 2015 According to 29 CFR 1910:1200 and GHS Rev. Pharmacists may also have it.. Electronic components in the thermometer can take very accurate and fast temperature readings. Geratherm Mercury Free Oral Glass Thermometer, Pack of 2. It is sometimes found in the gardening departments at hardware stores, near the fertilizer, or with garden pesticides and fungicides. The sulfur does two things: Determining Whether Your Non-Digital Fever Thermometer Has Mercury in It, Prepping for Clean Up of a Broken Mercury Thermometer, Items Needed to Clean Up a Small Mercury Spill, specific information about how to clean up broken fluorescent bulbs, What to Do if You Spill More Mercury than the Amount in a Thermometer, health effects related to exposures to vapors from metallic mercury. Make sure to label the bag as directed by your local health or fire department. These vapors are harmful to your health and the environment. A medical thermometer (also called clinical thermometer) is used for measuring human or animal body temperature.The tip of the thermometer is inserted into the mouth under the tongue (oral or sub-lingual temperature), under the armpit (axillary temperature), into the rectum via the anus (rectal temperature), into the ear (tympanic temperature), or on the forehead (temporal temperature Broken alcohol thermometers can be disposed of in an ordinary fashion, being careful of any broken glass. Most thermometers do not have mercury in them. When I was shaking my thermometer, the bottom broke off, and it spilled down … your lucky?!? Small droplets will combine into a larger sphere shape, which will roll on a flat surface and break back into smaller droplets if dropped or if pressure is applied. The first thing to remember if you break a mercury thermometer is that the silvery substance contained within those glass tubes has the potential to be highly toxic. However, skin irritation or contact dermatitis may develop. Alternatively, use two pieces of cardboard paper to roll the mercury beads onto the paper towel or into the bag. Tremor in the legs. Does ibuprofen cause high blood pressure if taken for several days I dose I took 800mg total in a day ? Hand shake. Make sure all pets are removed from the area. For additional information on health effects, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides a Public Health Statement on Mercury that also presents information on health effects related to exposures to vapors from metallic mercury. Mercury is not absorbed through intact skin or from a healthy digestive tract in amounts that would cause toxic effects. Shaking. 4.2 out of 5 stars 145. If you improperly dispose of products containing mercury, they may break and release mercury vapors. Cooling is the preferred method. Can Antibiotic capsule powder be taken with spoon, instead of swallowing pill? If a thermometer has broken, spilled liquid metal is unlikely to bring critical consequences, if we mean by this concept paralysis, irreversible changes in the systems of vital activity and death. Is it a good idea to switch from an SSRI to CBD . About half an hour ago my 4 year old son broke the mercury thermometer in his mouth. Metallic mercury probably just was passed. I guess you didn’t swallow it, so you should be ok. 5.8K views Ok when i was like 7 or 8 i didnt want to go to school..so i ran it under really hot water and then put it in my mouth.When i put it in it broke in my mouth and the mercury leaked out.I wiped it off and just threw the thermometer away.Well my mom new but neither she or i new how toxic it was.Im 17 and wondering why nothing happened if its so toxic or harmful can something still be go wrong even if it happened like 10 years ago, Metallic mercury probably just was passed. Accidental oral or skin exposure to elemental mercury does not need medical assessment unless the patient is symptomatic. If the room or apartment broke mercury thermometer, the mercury after impact into many small droplets and is distributed throughout the room. Many people have a mercury thermometer in their home. Do NOT vacuum or sweep the broken thermometer pieces. Open all windows and doors to the outside; shut all doors to other parts of the house. It is sometimes found in the gardening departments at hardware stores, near the fertilizer, or with garden pesticides and fungicides. When using powdered sulfur, do not breathe in the powder as it can be moderately toxic. MEDICAL. 3.9 out of 5 stars 144. Favorite Answer. Glass thermometers can break and cause the person injury, and some contain mercury, which is poisonous; ones containing mercury, in particular, are no longer recommended. Spasms of the body. This leaves you with something else in your mouth that doesn't belong there. Symptoms of mercury poisoning. Have everyone else leave the area; don't let anyone walk through the mercury on their way out. Why is this not possible 30 60 90 right triangle problem? Your experience underscores the importance of eliminating all mercury-containing thermometers. Remember to keep the area well ventilated to the outside (i.e., windows open and fans in exterior windows running) for at least 24 hours after your successful cleanup. Diarrhea. What hospital would you go to for emergency abdominal surgery in LA county? 67 ($8.67/Count) FREE Shipping. Place the trash bag outside in a secured area and label it as directed by your local health or fire department. Only 15 left in stock - order soon. It is the organic compounds of Hg that are so toxic. OPTIONAL STEP: It is OPTIONAL to use commercially available powdered sulfur to absorb the beads that are too small to see. Care must be taken to avoid scattering the mercury or allowing it to roll to a hard-to-reach location. Of course, identifying whether it is really mercury in your thermometer is an important step, however, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Zip locking plastic bags (4 to 5 as needed), Duct tape or shaving cream, and small paint brush. Symptoms of mercury poisoning can lead to serious consequences, pathologic conditions that ultimately lead to death. Even in the last 20 years, most thermometers that are sold are dyed alcohol. Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Instead, consider a digital thermometer. Therefore, harmful effects would not be expected from swallowing or touching the small amount of mercury from a broken thermometer. The most common cause of mercury poisoning is from eating seafood, but people can get mercury poisoning from industrial processing, thermometers and blood pressure machines, dental work, and … $16.05 $ 16. Once you have decided on which area you will use the thermometer place it there and wait three … He spit out mercury and pieces of glass. If a glass thermometer breaks while checking an oral temperature, the mercury may be swallowed. Almost everyone is able to resist some quantities of mercury. Not saying you can drink the stuff, but the small amount of Hg in the thermometer was probably not in the gut long enough to be converted to an absorbable form. Breathing in mercury vapor from a broken thermometer can manifest the following symptoms: metallic taste in the mouth; Continue to keep pets and children out of cleanup area. After you remove larger beads, put shaving cream on top of small paint brush and gently "dot" the affected area to pick up smaller hard-to-see beads. How do you think about the answers? DO NOT allow children to help you clean up the spill. Contact your local health department, municipal waste authority, or your local fire department to find out how to conduct proper disposal in accordance with local, state and federal laws. 05 ($8.03/Count) FREE Shipping. Thermometer for Adults, Oral Thermometer for Fever, Medical Thermometer with Fever Alert, Memory Recall, C/F Switchable, Rectum Armpit Reading Thermometer for Baby Kids and Adults #1 Best Seller Mercury-Free, Glass, Oral Thermometer C/F Do try the cooling method first. If a spill occurs on carpet, curtains, upholstery or other absorbent surfaces, these contaminated items should be thrown away in accordance with the disposal means outlined below. Headache. You may want to request the services of a contractor who has monitoring equipment to screen for mercury vapors. If there are any broken pieces of glass or sharp objects, pick them up with care. If the body creates antibodies in response to the vaccine, could you "vaccinate" others by donating blood ? If you have further questions, then please call your local poison control center at 1 (800) 222-1222. Newer non-digital fever thermometers often use alcohol or a non-toxic compound that looks similar to mercury. Mercury is a liquid metal with properties different from most substances. First, make sure any children, pets and pregnant women leave the area immediately. What happens if someone is given a real drug but told it's a placebo? It is the organic compounds of Hg that are so toxic. It is considered the safest way to … Note: Powdered sulfur may stain fabrics a dark color. The patient’s mercury exposure is benign. Fold the paper towel and place in a zip locking bag. Place all mercury beads and objects into the trash bag. Mercury can be cleaned up easily from the following surfaces: wood, linoleum, tile and any similarly smooth surfaces. Do patients who take valporic acid take it differently and take it on different frequency of certain points? View information on health effects related to exposures to vapors from metallic mercury. Make sure to label the bag as directed by your local health or fire department. State of depression or depression. With changes in temperature, the mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the scale. If there is a paper calibration strip inside of the thermometer that includes the words “mercury free,” then the liquid in the thermometer is not mercury. Mercury thermometer broke in mouth? Secure the bag and label it as directed by your local health or fire department. Mercury is bad for your health, as well as for the water, wildlife, and waste systems on earth. Alternatively, use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments (Peel the tape very slowly from the floor to keep the mercury beads stuck to the tape.) before the electronic … Seal the pieces in a plastic bag. 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