What to do if the thermometer is broken
Recently, with the arrival of the winter flu season, the frequency of use of thermometers has increased significantly, and related topics such as "the correct way to deal with a broken thermometer" have also been on the hot search list. The following is a detailed guide compiled based on hot content across the Internet in the past 10 days to help you safely respond to emergencies.
1. Event background and risk analysis
According to medical supplies safety monitoring data, the number of inquiries about broken thermometers in the past 10 days has increased by 23% month-on-month, mainly concentrated on mercury thermometers (accounting for 87%). The following is a comparison of the risk of breakage of different types of thermometers:
| Thermometer type | Breakage risk level | Main hazardous substances |
|---|---|---|
| mercury thermometer | ★★★★★ | Liquid mercury (highly toxic) |
| electronic thermometer | ★☆☆☆☆ | Lithium battery electrolyte |
| Infrared forehead thermometer | ☆☆☆☆☆ | none |
2. Processing steps for broken mercury thermometers
1.evacuation: Let children, pregnant women and pets leave the scene immediately, and open windows for ventilation for at least 2 hours.
2.protective measures: Wear rubber gloves and N95 masks to avoid skin contact and inhalation of mercury vapor
3.Collect mercury beads:
| tool | How to use | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| cardboard | Push large mercury beads together | Avoid using a vacuum cleaner |
| adhesive tape | Paste tiny mercury beads | Need to check repeatedly |
| syringe | Aspirate micromercury beads | Sealing after operation |
4.Follow-up processing: Put all pollutants into sealed bottles, label them as "mercury-containing waste" and hand them to the community health service center
3. Key points of health monitoring
According to the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you need to focus on observing the following symptoms after exposure (if any one of them occurs, you should seek medical attention immediately):
| time window | Typical symptoms | high risk groups |
|---|---|---|
| Within 24 hours | headache/cough | Asthma patients |
| Within 72 hours | Finger tremor | infants |
| 1 week later | Gingivitis | pregnant woman |
4. Recommendation of alternatives
Based on the sales data of the e-commerce platform in the past seven days, safety thermometers have become a new hot spot:
| product type | sales growth | average price |
|---|---|---|
| electronic thermometer | +45% | 39-80 yuan |
| Forehead thermometer | +32% | 89-150 yuan |
| Bluetooth thermometer sticker | +120% | 199-299 yuan |
5. Special reminder from experts
1. Never use sulfur powder to cover mercury beads (it will produce mercury sulfide, which is more difficult to deal with)
2. The contaminated carpet needs to be cut off and sealed.
3. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has 11 mercury-containing waste recycling points (can be inquired through the 12369 hotline)
Through the above structured treatment plan, health risks can be effectively reduced and secondary pollution can be avoided. It is recommended that families give priority to digital thermometers to eliminate hidden dangers from the source.
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