ds bitten the top off a mercury thermometer

[shagmundfreud]

.... arghhhhh!

He's 6. He said he spat it out straight away and washed his mouth out.

A&E?

Yes.

NHS direct? One or the other.

Good luck.

A and e straight away!

Better to be safe. You could call NHS direct but A&E probably your best bet if you can.

I did this as a child. (At least I didn't bite it off, it somehow got broken and my mum didn't notice as she put it in my mouth.) No A&E trip and no after effects.

But yes, take him if you are worried.

Ring the poisons unit of your nearest hospital that has one - Guy's in London has one I think. They can advise you over the phone.

Apparently it's inhaling mercury vapour that's v. dangerous. Swallowing it is less dangerous - it's so heavy it tends to go straight through you. But you need expert advice quickly.

Have phoned NHS direct.

They don't seem too worried and haven't advised me to take him to a&e.

Am waiting for them to phone back.

Well that's a first.

Probably the first time in NHS Direct's history that they havent' told someone to go to A&E.

Ironic really since the child obviously needs to go.

I think I did this as a child and my dad gave me something (salt/water perhaps) to make me vomit.

Once you've allayed the health issues, you might want to find out exactly where he spat it. I think mercury can eat through a number of materials (any chemistry geeks around to confirm/refute?) and you probably don't want random holes.

From NHS Direct's own website....

Mercury thermometers

Mercury thermometers are now being phased out, because they are dangerous if they get broken. Mercury is poisonous if swallowed, or if it comes into contact with the skin.

Only adults should use mercury thermometers because children are more likely to bite it and break the glass.

Never give salt water to make anyone vomit. It is not a guaranteed emetic and can do far more harm than good if the reaon you are taking the temp is because someone may be pyrexial and therefore unwell and dehydrated.

also some things cause more harm when they are being thrown up.

nhs direct should have someone from npis phone you to give you advice.

Most thermometers don't use mercury anymore, so are you sure thats what it was?

Maybe not. I bought it a year or so ago so quite new.

I wasn't taking his temperature with it. He found it while he was poking around in my dressing table.

NHS direct haven't called back yet....

Sure it was mercury?
Contents liquid silver, not red or green?

I would say its an A&E job. Doesn't it give off toxic fumes? Have you managed to clear up all the bits of mercury?

I wouldn't mess about waiting for nhs direct to call you - go to a and e now.

Crikey. I'd go to A&E just to be safe.

Coincidentally, I was telling DP just today about the time when I was a kid and a mercury thermometer got broken and I was allowed to pour the mercury onto a plate and wibble it around for a while!!

i would go to A and E

dont mess about waiting, get to A&E now.

in liquid form mercury is fairless harmless anyway, its the vapour that is bad for you. Very much doubt its mercury anyway if its new.

Take the thermometer with you to a&e. If it's mercury it will form little silver balls if tipped out of thermometer.