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What to Do If You Break an Oral Thermometer

Although many oral thermometers have been switched to digital, you may have a glass oral thermometer around the house that still does the trick--that is, until it shatters. If you or your child have broken a glass oral thermometer, you can't just pick it up and throw it in the trash. Most glass thermometers contain mercury to gauge the temperature, which is very dangerous when handled directly. You must take extreme care to safely and properly dispose of the thermometer, or risk the health of you and your family.

  1. Mercury Removal Safety

    • Do not allow your children to be in the area or attempt to help you clean up the mercury. If you have any pets, remove them from the area and gate off the room where the mercury spill occurred. You may not have everything in the house available to clean up a mercury stain, but it is better to take a few minutes and go out of the house as long as you can be sure the broken thermometer will not be disturbed while you're gone. If you can't be sure, call a friend or family member and ask him to pick up the additional materials you will need to clean up the spill so you don't have to leave the house.

    Cleaning up the Glass

    • Put on latex or rubber gloves. Do not handle any glass or mercury directly with your bare hands. Pick up any large pieces of glass with your hands and place them on a paper towel. Place the paper towel in a plastic sandwich bag that seals. Call your local fire department or police station to ask what you will need to write on the bag. Write in clear letters with a permanent marker--most likely the police will instruct you to write "Warning, mercury inside," or something to this extent so it can be disposed of correctly.

    Cleaning up the Mercury

    • If the thermometer has broken on a vinyl, concrete, or other hard surface, you should be able to clean it up on your own. If the mercury has broken on a carpet or other porous surface, you will need to cut out the entire surface and have it removed from your home. If the thermometer broke on a hard floor, use a squeegee or a thin piece of cardboard to gently sweep up the larger pieces of mercury that you can see. Use a flashlight in every corner of the room to determine whether or not pieces of mercury are in the corners. Use an eyedropper to remove the collected mercury beads from the floor. and place the entire eyedropper into the plastic bag with the glass. There will still be small pieces of mercury that you will not be able to see. In order to find these mercury particles, shake powdered sulfur onto the floor. You can obtain this powdered sulfur at your local disease control center. This will bind the mercury and seal any vapors from being released into your home. Sweep up the sulfur and mercury and place it in another plastic sealed bag. Take all of the bags and place them as well as all of the materials you used for cleanup into a trash bag. Label the trash bag for your local fire department to pick up.

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