Crashed mercury thermometer: what to do and what not?

Mercury thermometers can be found in the medicine Cabinet of almost all Russians. Due to the fact that the device is quite fragile - it is very often broken. Next, we will consider it .

And so, if you have a crashed mercury thermometer, you should:

• to Open all the Windows, so was fresh air and dropped the temperature inside the apartment (remember what the room will be warmer, the more will evaporate mercury);
• to restrict access to Pets and people in the room, where broken thermometer;
• In a gauze bandage and rubber gloves to collect the mercury with Newspapers, pre-soaked in water. Most small balls you can collect with the help of adhesive plaster;
• Assembled metal placed in a container filled with water and very tightly closed. Water is needed directly in order to not evaporate the mercury. In any case it is impossible to pour the container on the street, and throw it in the toilet and the garbage disposal;
• On the web site of the center of epidemiology and hygiene of your locality to get the nearest station, where staff will tell you where you need to include mercury. In that case, if you are 100 % sure that collected all the mercury, then you can call the specialists of the sanitary-epidemiological station for inspection of your apartment;
• Process a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate spill area using a spray or brush. To leave somewhere for 1 hour, then rinse with soap-soda solution;
• Try not to enter the room for 24 hours. Then you can wash the floor with water;
• Directly after collecting the mercury, to reduce the effects of toxins on your body, you need to take 2–3 tab. activated charcoal and rinse your mouth with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• in Order to get rid of mercury vapor finally the room must be ventilated 3 times a day for 10 min for 10 days.

What not to do:

• to Collect mercury vacuum cleaner;
• Sweep mercury with a broom;
• to Wash clothes, where people collected mercury.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning

1-mi symptoms of acute poisoning with mercury vapors, which occur directly after 8-24 hours are:

• lack of appetite;
• weakness;
• pain on swallowing;    
• headache;
• salivation;   
• metallic taste in your mouth;
• nausea and vomiting;  
• diarrhea;
• bleeding and swelling of the gums;
• abdominal pain.

Translated by "Yandex.Translate": translate.yandex.ru.