The content of the article
Good quality modern electronic thermometers are quite expensive, so many still prefer proven mercury thermometers to them. Moreover, electronics is often mistaken and requires periodic replacement of batteries, which are also not very cheap.
A mercury thermometer contains a very dangerous substance that is in a glass shell. Falling to the floor is enough for fragile glass to shatter and mercury to shatter throughout the room. To avoid poisoning by vapor of this liquid metal, you need to quickly collect it.
What is the risk of mercury getting on the carpet
If mercury has fallen on a flat surface such as a table or floor, it can be collected quite easily using sheets of paper, rolling droplets to each other and connecting them. But when such a substance gets on the fleecy fabric of the sofa upholstery or carpet, certain problems begin.
Drops of mercury penetrate between the villi of the carpet and it is very difficult to get them out of there. If something remains, then hazardous fumes can lead to poor health, the emergence of chronic diseases. How to act in such situations and not harm yourself even more? Indeed, many incorrectly remove mercury, endangering not only themselves, but also all households.
What cannot be done and why
Some items intended for traditional cleaning are categorically unsuitable for cleaning mercury from carpet or furniture upholstery. The broom in its structure acts as a comb, which should cleanse large contaminants. In the case of mercury, twigs from the broom will only separate the droplets, but will not sweep them out. Moreover, small particles are then much more difficult to assemble and they can penetrate into the base of the carpet.
The vacuum cleaner is also categorically forbidden, because after such cleaning it can simply be thrown away and preferably so that no one can use it anymore. After all, mercury settles on the device’s spare parts and upon subsequent switching on it will heat up and evaporate, poisoning the air around it.
Moreover, the brush of the vacuum cleaner can also crush droplets into small particles and provoke their deepening into the base of the carpet. But even without a nozzle, the pipe will stick to the surface in one place, and the peas of mercury around will move and share. If the vacuum cleaner is not old and still suitable for use, then you should not spoil it in order to collect mercury, because such cleaning will do even more harm than it did before.
Preparation for cleaning
Of course, the best way to get rid of the danger when breaking a mercury thermometer is to call a special team that deals with the demercurization of the premises. But the difficulty is that such services do not work for free and the procedure is quite expensive. Yes, and no one will bother with preserving someone else's property, the carpet is simply rolled up and disposed of.
And if the rug is new and expensive as a memory, and throwing away a hand does not rise, how then to save a thing? It is important to follow the correct sequence of actions so as not to endanger yourself and other occupants of the house. The sooner mercury is collected and rendered harmless, the less harm it will bring.
The cleaning agent should immediately put on a gauze bandage covering the mouth and nose, which should be soaked with a soda-water solution or just water. Moisture will hold up dangerous fumes, which will protect the airways from damage.It is not worth more than fifteen minutes to stay in a room with a broken thermometer, you need to take breaks, preferably in the fresh air.
Procedure for cleaning mercury from carpet
All actions must be carried out with latex gloves. Rubber do not fit the wrist too tightly, so it will be inconvenient to do such a delicate work in them. To collect hazardous particles, you need to prepare a glass jar with water and a lid in advance.
It is most convenient to collect mercury from the carpet most of all with a small rubber bulb (douche), gently pushing the fibers of the carpet. Small particles can be pushed towards each other if they are at a distance of several millimeters. After all droplets of mercury are collected from the carpet, it must be wiped with a manganese or chlorinated solution. It is also advisable to treat all surfaces in the room with water and soda, since hazardous metal was evaporated during cleaning.
After cleaning, open the window and ventilate the room for a long time. It is better if no one dwells in it for a week, and the door is always closed to prevent mercury vapor from entering the rest of the room.
If possible, it is better to take the carpet after cleaning for some time outside, so the metal residues will finally disperse in the air, where their concentration will be minimal and will not harm others. Carpet products are not recommended to be transported before mercury is collected, as there is a possibility that the smallest particles of this substance will be lost along the road and significantly expand the danger zone.
What to do if mercury was not collected on time
Often thermometers are broken by children who are not aware of the dangers of their contents. And in order to avoid punishment, they are trying in every possible way to hide this fact from their parents and other adults. Of course, such actions pose the greatest danger, since until the thermometer is detected and glass fragments are found, mercury will evaporate and gradually poison the air in the room.
What to do in this case? For the first time, at least children should be relocated from the dangerous premises. Send to relatives or friends. The best method would be to call a service that will conduct a complete demercurization of all rooms in the apartment and house, since mercury could spread everywhere in a long time.
If the cost of the services of such organizations is not affordable, then you have to do it yourself. All surfaces, including sofa upholstery and carpeting, must be treated with bleach and left in this condition for half an hour. It is not recommended to be indoors at this time. Such a procedure should be carried out daily for the next two to three weeks and constantly ventilate the room.
The bleach solution can be replaced with a dark brown solution of potassium permanganate, but it is worth remembering that this substance can leave stains on the upholstery of upholstered furniture. It’s better not to touch the treated surfaces for several hours, then wipe everything with soapy water and soda.
Children who find themselves in a mercury-contaminated room should be shown to a doctor right away to prevent poisoning. Adults, even if there are no symptoms of mercury entering the body, should rinse the stomach with a solution of potassium permanganate diluted to light pink water. At the first sign of poisoning, you should immediately visit the hospital.
If a mercury thermometer was broken and all cleaning operations were carried out correctly, then you can do without special services. But all the mercury collected, as well as the solutions, brushes and rags that were used for cleaning, must be collected in airtight containers and taken to an organization that will dispose of them. In no case can you throw away anything yourself, as the remnants can poison others for a long time.
Video: how to properly collect mercury
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