- For expecting a product calling itself a 'baby thermometer' not to be full of Mercury and easily broken!!!

[mrshippy]

I bought a nice, shiney new thermometer which said in big letters 'baby thermometer'. It had a nice picture of a baby on it and no mention whatsoever of containing Mercury or how to clean it up safely.

DS grabbed it off me and broke it, cutting his finger. I rinsed it under the tap and hoovered with DS in the room and 3 month old DD strapped on me in a baby carrier. Hours later I found Mercury all over the kitchen floor. NHS direct said I could have caused serious damage to our health by hoovering and we had to be assessed by a GP, bin our hoover, bin the kids clothes and speant hoursa and hours clearing it up. A year later, we discover Mercury from the spill behind the kick-boards in the kitchen, where my kids have spent endless hours playing and presuably breathing in all-be-it very small amounts of Mercury as it evapourates. Dr isn't overly concerned, but concerned enough to refer to a Paed re this.

Negligable health risks asside (did post in health thread) what the hell are this company thinking? Mercury thermometers are banned in so many countries and The Eu banned then in 2007 (although not in Uk law yet - say's google. They are banned in lots of schools, hospitals etc. Babies always wriggle around and grab at thermometers.

Does anyone think that this company has broken any laws here?

I don't know whether the company has broken any laws but YANBU.

where did you buy it from? If it's a reputable company I think you should complain to the stockists.

Ohh , we just had our baby and many of our friends advised us not to buy these. We did our research and then bought one online on ebay from UKH Gizmos , if called Digital infra red baby thermometer. Its an OEM Brand product which is battery powered and has several features e.g. memory for saving temperature readings and has big display which shows temperature up to 1 decimal place.So it was pretty easy to use

I doubt they have broken any laws, seems to be par for the course, the friendly green lightbulbs also contain mercury
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-506347/An-energy-saving-bulb-gone--evacuate-room-now.html

there was another story where a bulb broke and the family had to call in some environmental body to do a proper cleanup which cost £2000.

Don't all traditional thermometers contain mercury? Aren't they all glass?

why the ancient thread revival?

Wow, I didn't know it was that poisonous. When I was at school we once had a completely mad supply teacher in science who said "Since you are the top set you are being trusted with these mercury thermometers, you must be VERY VERY CAREFUL with them and NOT DROP THEM" And then promptly dropped the entire tray.

bertie

My grandpa said he used to play with mercury on his school desk, sticking his finger in it and swooshing it around.

He lived to 93