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    If the thermometer breaks, the most important thing is to carefully remove the mercury.

    But first of all, it is necessary to take all people out of the room where the thermometer crashed. Open the window for fresh air; close the door tightly to isolate the polluted room from other rooms. Wear a gauze bandage or respirator, rubber gloves.

    If a mercury thermometer has broken, then you cannot wipe the spilled mercury with a rag (this will only lead to further fragmentation of mercury), you cannot use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning. To collect mercury balls, you can use a rubber bulb, adhesive plaster (or sticky tape - scotch tape).

    Removal of drops of mercury is carried out from the periphery of the contaminated area to its center. Large drops are collected with a rubber bulb, small ones - with an adhesive plaster. Everything collected and what was collected (rubber pear, adhesive plaster, broken thermometer) is placed in an enamel or glass dish filled with a solution of a demerkutizer, and tightly closed with a lid. The collected mercury can be handed over to the local sanitary and epidemiological control (they can also be invited to analyze the air for the presence of mercury vapors).

    The place of the accident, where the thermometer crashed, is treated with a solution of a demerkutizer. Demerkutizers are chemical substances, the use of which reduces the rate of evaporation of mercury and facilitates the mechanical removal of mercury. Demerkutizers include:

    • soap and soda solution (4% soap solution in 5% aqueous soda solution);
    • 0.2% aqueous solution of potassium permanganate acidified with hydrochloric acid (5 ml of acid, specific gravity 1.19, per 1 liter of potassium permanganate solution);
    • 20% bleach solution;
    • 5-10% hydrochloric acid solution, etc.

    V medical institutions a packing should be formed for carrying out demercurization with the necessary supply of chemical demercurization means.

    Demercurization styling composition

    Emergency situation - thermometer crashed

    Nurse tactics:
    1. Remove people from the room where the thermometer crashed.
    2. Wear special clothing.
    3. Prepare demerkutizer solution: 40 g of shavings laundry soap+ 50 g of soda ash + 1 liter of water (temperature 50 0 С).
    4. Prepared demerkutizer solution is poured into a container marked “For demercurization”. Adhesive plaster collects mercury from the contaminated surface. Adhesive plaster with mercury and a broken thermometer are soaked with full immersion in a container with a demerkutizer solution and closed with a lid.
    5. The place where the thermometer broke is poured with the prepared soap-soda solution; exposure 30 minutes.
    6. After 30 minutes, the room is cleaned and the room is ventilated.
    7. A container containing mercury in a soap and soda solution is handed over to the head nurse.

    Additional material:

    Each of us in Everyday life collides with mercury, the benefit is not in its pure form, but only with objects that contain mercury. But do not forget that in case of damage to such objects, mercury flows out and begins to evaporate, poisoning everyone who is nearby with its poisonous vapors.

    It should be noted that mercury is one of the most poisonous substances in nature; it can evaporate at room temperature and poison the body of humans and animals. The consequences of administration of mercury are dire, sometimes even fatal. So, to begin with, let's define what mercury is and what harm it can cause to the body. Mercury is the only metal in nature that is in a liquid state at normal temperatures, it is a white-silvery liquid, and it is also the heaviest liquid in nature, its density is 13.5 g per cubic meter. cm..

    Also, mercury vapor is very dangerous for human health, a large amount of mercury vapor can be fatal. Mercury is a substance of the first hazard class - an extremely hazardous chemical substance. Mercury tends to disintegrate into tiny balls and spread to all hard-to-reach places. Note that in nature, mercury is found in such a mineral as cinnabar. Cinnabar is part of a huge number of rocks, mainly rocks of volcanic origin.

    The effect of mercury on the human body


    When exposed to mercury on the human body, the central nervous system is affected, gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys. Mercury can be stored in the human body for up to one year. The main symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning are: increased excitability, irritability, fatigue, headache, sleep disorder, memory impairment and apathy. If there was a fluorescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp in the room and those in the room developed such symptoms, an urgent need to consult a doctor.

    What is demercurization?

    In case of damage to items containing mercury, it is necessary to urgently carry out the demercurization process. So, first, let's find out what demercurization is. Mercury demercurization is the removal and elimination of mercury contamination in an indoor environment. Sometimes the question arises why the process of removing mercury was called demercurization. Since ancient times, mercury had another name for mercury, and the prefix "De" means an action to eliminate something, that's how it got this process such a name. It is worth noting that demercurization at home is not a complicated process, as it might seem at first glance.

    Demercurization of mercury at home is a two-step process. In order for it to be carried out correctly, when demercurizing the premises, it is necessary to remember about, which we will discuss below. You need to take this process very seriously and carefully prepare everything you need.

    To demercurize mercury if a thermometer breaks in an apartment, you need to take rubber gloves, this is necessary in order to exclude direct contact with mercury, a gauze bandage (always moistened with soda solution), also cellophane bags or shoe covers, you also need to prepare cotton wool, paper, a syringe or a medical pear, also an airtight container into which you can collect the remnants of mercury, you still need to take a flashlight, you will need it if the mercury gets into cracks and hard-to-reach places.

    So, demercurization of residues from a mercury thermometer begins with the fact that it is necessary to remove all people and animals from the room, because mercury vapors are also harmful to them. After that, you need to open a window or window so that the temperature in the room does not rise, because we all know that if the temperature is above 20 degrees, then the process of evaporation of mercury is underway. After that, you need to put on a gauze bandage, gloves and shoe covers and start collecting balls of mercury.

    The balls can be collected with a syringe or with folded paper and cotton swab. Further, all small particles of mercury should be collected in large balls. All the collected mercury should be placed in a container that closes tightly; a solution of potassium permanganate should also be poured into this container.

    It is also convenient to collect the mercury with duct tape. It must be remembered that even the smallest particles of mercury should not be left behind, because it will evaporate and poison everyone who is in the room. If you are not sure that you have collected all the mercury, be sure to inspect everything with a flashlight to be sure that all the mercury has been collected. If you want all these actions to be carried out by a professional, you can contact the "EcoTestExpress" laboratory.

    Then you can go to the second stage of mercury demercurization. The second stage includes neutralizing the consequences after breaking the thermometer. To do this, you will need to take potassium permanganate, the solution should come out dark brown in color, then about one tablespoon of vinegar, salt and hydrochloric acid will need to be added to this solution.

    This mixture must be stirred well and proceeded to the processing of all surfaces on which mercury could have gotten while the thermometer broke. This solution must be done twice and rinsed twice on all surfaces, then ventilate the room for eight hours and constantly wet the floor with water.

    After demercurization has been carried out in the room, it is necessary to ventilate the room for at least a week and treat all surfaces with this solution in order to remove mercury and its residues completely. You can also use another mercury remover, make a soap and soda solution, or take bleach and dilute it with water. After processing the surfaces with this solution. In any case, all three solutions will destroy the negative effects of mercury on humans.

    It must be remembered that if mercury hits a metal surface and spreads over it forming a thin film, then such an object should be disposed of immediately and not tried to clean, because this will not lead to a positive result. These are the methods of demercurization that can be used in everyday life, they are not at all complicated and fast, the most important thing is to adhere to all safety rules.

    Demercurization of fluorescent lamps

    So, if you accidentally broke a fluorescent lamp, then you should not immediately panic, you must remember that it is necessary to demercurize in the same way as when breaking a thermometer. First, you should take everyone out of the room, then put on all the necessary personal protective equipment and do not forget about the gauze bandage.

    Next, it is imperative to ventilate the room where the fluorescent lamp was broken and start the demercurization process itself. Collect all lamp fragments, as well as all mercury and place it in an airtight container, but not a metal one. After the mercury balls are removed, it is imperative to treat all surfaces with a solution of water and bleach, since it is the best way to remove residual mercury and neutralize it.

    After that, you should not enter the room for a while, but simply leave it to ventilate. Within a few days, it will be necessary to treat all surfaces with bleach. Thus, by demercurizing mercury lamps, you can protect your health and the health of your loved ones and in the future be very careful with mercury lamps, because they, like mercury thermometers, can pose a huge danger to human health.

    So, it is necessary to highlight what substances are used for demercurization. In order to carry out the chemical demercurization of the room, it is imperative to take copper sulfate, sodium sulfate, baking soda, also take a solution of iodine, manganese and bleach, all these substances will help in the collection and demercurization of mercury.

    What should not be done during demercurization?

    It is also necessary to remember what not to do when demercurizing mercury. Under no circumstances should you collect mercury with a vacuum cleaner. Firstly, during its work, it emits heat, which will contribute to the rapid evaporation of mercury, and secondly, if you have already made such a mistake, then the vacuum cleaner can no longer be used and it will be best to dispose of it. Also, when collecting mercury balls, the use of a broom is prohibited, because it will crush the mercury balls into even smaller ones and then collecting them will be ten times more difficult. You cannot throw mercury down the drain, because even a small amount of it can contaminate a large amount of water. And of course, you cannot throw mercury into the garbage chute because it will evaporate and its vapors will poison the human body.


    All items that were used during demercurization must not be washed and thrown into the trash, they must be placed in an airtight bag and taken along with mercury to an organization that specializes in the disposal of mercury. Also, if a mercury thermometer was broken on a carpet or on a sofa, then you need to call a special service that will deal with the demercurization of mercury on such a surface. And remember not to leave objects that may contain mercury, unattended or in unreliable places, because mercury vapor poisoning is one of the most dangerous for people, it can lead to serious consequences, and sometimes even death. You always have to be careful.

    Broken thermometer or mercury lamp - many people have encountered this. Especially a lot of concern arises if there are small children in the house. But not everyone knows how to properly deal with spilled mercury. In this case, mercury demercurization should be carried out, that is, the elimination of all traces of mercury and mercury contamination. When cleaning, you can use only proven techniques and follow a number of rules. Any mistake can cause health problems. There is little chance that minor exposure to mercury vapor will cause serious illness, but it’s better to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Moreover, this is not so difficult to do.

    What is demercurization

    Demercurization is the cleaning of a room from mercury and remaining traces. It can be carried out both mechanically and physicochemical. It is best to combine these methods. The first is to remove the bulk of the substance. The second is for cleansing and removing traces.

    Mercury is contained in mercury thermometers, mercury lamps, manometers.

    If you do not carry out demercurization, after a while the following symptoms will appear:

    • drowsiness;
    • fatigue;
    • headache;
    • shaking hands.

    In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor!


    Procedure

    If the thermometer breaks, first of all you need to remove all people and animals from the room. Then you should call the Ministry of Emergency Situations at 112.

    It would be more correct to turn to specialists. A person without experience may not be able to cope with the procedure. But if for some reason you do not have the opportunity to call for help, you can carry out demercurization at home on your own. But you need to strictly follow the rules.


    Collection of mercury

    The algorithm for removing mercury must be followed exactly.

    • Get all strangers out of the room who are not involved in the cleansing.
    • Open all windows in the room, and lock the doors (if possible, you should also close all the cracks).
    • Put on rubber gloves on your hands and shoe covers on your feet. Protect your face with damp gauze.
    • Collect the balls with a syringe or a newspaper dipped in sunflower oil - the mercury will stick to it.
    • Place the balls in a jar of water and contact the Ministry of Emergencies. Give the bank also all the funds you used to collect the mercury.

    When removing a substance, a number of important rules must be followed.

    • Do not use a vacuum cleaner. The mercury will remain inside, so you'll have to get rid of it. In addition, the device will heat the mercury that has got into it, because of which its vapors will spread faster throughout the room. Even a vacuum cleaner thrown into the trash can be dangerous.
    • You cannot use a broom either - because of it, the balls will become smaller. Collecting them will be much more difficult.
    • Do not try to put the balls together. This will only waste time and leave more traces of the substance in the room.

    Most carefully when cleaning, you need to check the cracks in the floor and baseboards.

    “Miss Cleanliness” advises that if mercury gets on the carpet, it should be carefully rolled up and shaken off in the street, spreading polyethylene or damp paper underneath.


    Demercurization with potassium permanganate

    But just collecting the mercury isn't enough. After that, you need to clean the room from its traces. Various chemicals are used for cleansing. One of them is potassium permanganate.

    1. It is necessary to prepare a solution of potassium permanganate. It should be dark brown. It is important to understand that after such cleaning, stains may remain on the surface that cannot be removed.
    2. Add salt and acid (for example, vinegar essence or citric acid) to the solution. For one liter of diluted potassium permanganate, you need a tablespoon of salt and the same amount of essence or a pinch of citric acid.
    3. Treat the surface on which there were balls (especially crevices and baseboards) with mortar. You can use a brush or spray bottle.
    4. The product must be left for an hour and a half. When the product begins to dry, you will need to periodically wet the surface with water.
    5. Prepare another solution - add forty grams of grated soap and fifty grams of baking soda to a liter of water. Wipe them all the places where you applied potassium permanganate.

    Cleansing must be repeated for several more days in a row. The first solution in the following days can be left for half an hour. In this case, do not forget to ventilate the room.

    Demercurization by sulfur

    Sulfur is another commonly recommended substance for getting rid of mercury. Allegedly, when they interact, harmless mercury sulfide is formed. However, this method has always been controversial. Experiments have proven that sulfur is useless in this case.

    Sulfur powder hardly reacts with mercury at room temperature. If you heat them to a hundred degrees, the result will hardly change. In this case, due to such heating, the harm from mercury will become stronger.


    Demercurization with chlorine

    But chlorine is more effective remedy... And getting it is much easier. You can use regular bleach to clean this way.

    1. In a plastic bucket or basin, mix a liter of bleach and five liters of water.
    2. Rinse the surface with a sponge with the solution. The main thing is not to forget about the cracks and skirting boards.
    3. Leave the solution in a ventilated area for fifteen minutes.
    4. Rinse the surfaces with clean water.
    5. Repeat cleansing every day for another month.

    The first two solutions are contaminated with mercury. They cannot be poured out, but must be handed over to the Ministry of Emergency Situations along with the balls themselves and all the means that were used for cleaning (including sponges).


    Thermometers and light bulbs are not only broken at home. This happens quite often in medical institutions. Therefore, a special instruction has been developed for their employees.

    • Persons responsible for demercurization in health care facilities receive training based on this instruction.
    • They are provided with special protection: gloves, an apron and rubber footwear, protected from the possible ingress of vapors, as well as masks and respirators.
    • After the procedure, the person should take a shower and rinse the mouth with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

    Procedure

    1. Wear protective equipment.
    2. Collect the balls of mercury with a rubber bulb.
    3. Pour one of the special solutions and leave for two days.
    4. Pour the contents into a jar.
    5. Hand it over for recycling.
    6. Clean clothes and rubber bulb.

    Solutions that are used for purification are called demercurizers in healthcare facilities. These include:

    • potassium permanganate solution, which was discussed above;
    • an aqueous solution of sodium sulfide with a concentration of five to ten percent;
    • hydrochloric acid solution with the same concentration;
    • a solution of iodine with a concentration of two to three percent in an aqueous solution of potassium iodide with a concentration of 30%.


    Output

    Thus, it is important to understand that even a broken thermometer is a health hazard. But if you follow the rules, you can protect yourself from the consequences. The easiest way is to contact a specialist. However, you can get rid of mercury on your own.

    To urgently leave the apartment, calling the rescue service, and inform the neighbors about the infection of the house is an example of how you should not behave if a mercury thermometer breaks in the apartment. The line between truth and fiction about the dangers of mercury for humans is thin, but in order not to panic once again, you need to learn a number of rules.

    First steps

    It is not mercury itself that can harm health, but its fumes or vapors. Therefore, it is important to collect the spilled contents of the thermometer quickly and ventilate the room. But this must be done in accordance with the instructions.

    It is best to close the room where the thermometer crashed and restrict the access of children and animals there. The first step is to collect as much as possible all the drops of mercury that have spilled. It is most convenient to do this with rubber gloves with a pear or adhesive tape (for example, scotch tape).

    Drops of mercury must be collected in a container filled with water, and then tightly closed. In the future, it is handed over to special departments for the disposal of mercury. The place where the mercury was spilled must be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a chlorine-containing liquid, and the room must be ventilated.

    Truth and myths

    Is mercury from a broken thermometer capable of infecting an apartment for years to come? A mercury thermometer contains one to two grams of mercury. This is enough to get mild poisoning if mercury drops are not collected.

    “If all the particles are collected, then there is no danger. If there are any suspicions that it has rolled up somewhere behind the plinth, under the laminate, in some other gap, then it is better to call specialists to make a measurement and then they will directly demercurize the premises, "said a specialist of the Sibrtut company. Andrey Pechenkin.

    Symptoms of acute poisoning include general weakness, lack of appetite, headache, pain when swallowing, metallic taste in the mouth, salivation, swelling and bleeding of the gums, nausea and vomiting. If there are no such manifestations, there is nothing to worry about. Moreover, the mercury from the thermometer is not enough for such poisoning.

    Should you dispose of clothing that has collected mercury? It is necessary to collect mercury drops in rubber gloves so as not to come into contact with hazardous metal once again. Clothing remains safe if there is no chance of mercury in it. For your own peace of mind, after collecting the remains of the thermometer, they can be washed with any chlorine-containing liquid. This is more than enough. Dangerous and fast: which thermometer to choose

    If mercury gets on a pet, is it not a tenant? Contact with mercury on an animal's fur is not a death sentence for a pet. If the mercury ball is entangled in the wool, it just needs to be cut, and if the mercury has rolled over the pet, it needs to be rinsed with a chlorine-containing liquid.

    In the room where the thermometer crashed, it is impossible to enter for 10 days?“One good ventilation, provided that all mercury particles have been collected, is sufficient. If no poisoning occurs within 24 hours, then most likely there is no danger to health, ”Pechenkin said.

    Need to notify your neighbors about the contamination of your home? There is no need to report a broken mercury thermometer to neighbors. “Mercury, it is around us, is contained not only in a broken thermometer. But there is a certain norm, if there is no excess, then everything is fine, ”the expert commented.

    The surest way to make sure your home is safe is to call a specialist. In Novosibirsk, you can contact the department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (Kolyvanskaya, 4. Tel .: 218 68 00). The team will come with the equipment, measure the air free of charge and, in case of deviations, carry out demercurization.

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    Many still have a mercury thermometer in their homes - it shows much more accurately and never lies. Everything would be fine, only the fear of breaking the thermometer haunts, you just have to pick it up. However, there is nothing terrible in this, it is only important to follow a few rules.

    1. Leave children and animals in the room... Mercury sticks easily to soles or wool, so don't risk it.
    2. Collect mercury with a vacuum cleaner... First, the hot air will speed up its evaporation. Secondly, mercury particles will settle on the insides of the vacuum cleaner, it will turn into a breeding ground for toxic substances.
    3. Sweep the mercury... The stiff bristles of a broom or brush will break the mercury into small, barely noticeable drops.
    4. Use a rag... She will rub the mercury on the floor, increasing the area of ​​the lesion.
    5. Flush down the drain / dispose of in the garbage chute... The mercury will not reach the cleaning station, but will settle on the pipes, poisoning everyone around. The same will happen if you throw it in a garbage chute or in a trash heap.
    6. Arrange a draft. Mercury vapor will scatter throughout the living space.
    7. Trying to save clothes that got mercury... Metal will end up in a drain or drum washing machine... Dispose of your clothing along with the collected mercury.

    What to do if a thermometer breaks

    The most the main rule is not to panic... A broken thermometer is not a fatal outcome, and you will not have to move. Officially, the process of collecting mercury is called demercurization - everything is serious, but not at all scary.

    1. Remove from room all outsiders and turn off everything increases air temperature... You can open the window, but it is important to ensure that in no case there is a draft.
    2. Change into clothes that you will not mind throwing away. Give preference to materials that do not absorb anything. Put on your hands rubber gloves, on the face - cloth bandage, on your feet - shoe covers.
    3. Prepare a container with a solution of chlorine-containing bleach "Whiteness" (at the rate of 1 liter of "Whiteness" per 5 liters of water) or a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 8 liters of water), if you can get it.
    4. Take a wet brush, a syringe with a thin needle, thick cardboard,adhesive plaster and capacity with water or solution from point 3 with a lid. Pull medium and small balls into a syringe, roll up large ones with a brush on a cardboard and pour into a jar. Remove the smallest ones with a plaster, carefully sticking them to the surface. Collection of drops - from the periphery to the center of the room.
    5. Take Lantern- mercury reflects well. Find the remaining balls with it and remove them. It's best to roll them out of the cracks metal needle... Tear off the skirting board and also pack in a tight bag for later disposal.
    6. All things that came into contact with metal collect in a bag and tie tightly... Close the jar with the collected mercury and the remains of the thermometer.
    7. Wipe off all surfaces in contact with mercury with a solution of "Whiteness" and soak for 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water. For a more complete demercurization after you can treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate (if any).
    8. Call the Ministry of Emergency Situations by phone 112 and ask about the nearest possibility of disposal of mercury.
    9. Wash thoroughly, rinse the mouth several times soda solution and take a few pills activated carbon for disinfection. The room where the thermometer was broken should be closed from visits for a week, leaving one window open. Regularly disinfect the floor in it with a solution of "Whiteness". And drink plenty of fluids.
    • ! If mercury gets on a fabric surface or where it is impossible to collect it, then in such cases it will not be possible to do without the help of specialists.

    Why is mercury dangerous?

    Mercury belongs to the 1st hazard class, being a cumulative poison, and it is the only metal that is in liquid form at room temperature. On outdoors the mercury starts to evaporate, which makes the thermometer a pretty dangerous thing.

    Mercury poisoning symptoms:

    • metallic taste in the mouth;
    • general weakness;
    • lack of appetite;
    • headache and discomfort when swallowing;
    • nausea and vomiting.

    In the absence of assistance to the victim, the symptoms are aggravated:

    • bleeding gums;
    • stomach ache;
    • loose stools with mucous and bloody blotches;
    • a sharp increase in body temperature, sometimes up to 40 ° C.

    Such signs are a reason for immediate hospitalization. Contact with mercury is especially harmful for children and pregnant women, as this can lead to irreparable damage.

    The first aid that can be given in case of mercury poisoning is the intake of absorbents and a large amount of ordinary water.