Save me from weekends.
Jan. 16th, 2005 07:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieSo, what did I do when LJ was out? Why, developed a sinus infection and broke a mercury thermometer. I think the lesson learned here is that LJ SHOULD NOT GO DOWN EVER AGAIN, BECAUSE THEN BECCA'S LIFE GOES RAPIDLY DOWNHILL.
So, yes. Hey, health center, gonna see you on Monday and get some drugs. And possibly have you look me over for mercury poisoning, although I feel okay, and aside from the abnormal number of typos in this post (which I think is caused more by the fact that for some reason I am up at 7 AM after going to bed at 2), I don't think I've suffered any ill effects. But, yes...spent the night with my window open to get some ventilation after breaking the thing at midnight. All the mercury went into my carpet, and me, thinking "oh, I'm not supposed to touch it...don't remember anything about breathing it...let's vaccuum up the glass!" Which is, of course, exactly what you're not supposed to do, because breathing it is the most dangerous thing about elemental mercury. *headdesk* This is why you go to the internet first before attempting cleanup of dangerous substances, children.
So as soon as they open, I have to go down to the porter and explain myself...this will be fun. Not.
*groan*
Can I start this weekend over, please?
So, yes. Hey, health center, gonna see you on Monday and get some drugs. And possibly have you look me over for mercury poisoning, although I feel okay, and aside from the abnormal number of typos in this post (which I think is caused more by the fact that for some reason I am up at 7 AM after going to bed at 2), I don't think I've suffered any ill effects. But, yes...spent the night with my window open to get some ventilation after breaking the thing at midnight. All the mercury went into my carpet, and me, thinking "oh, I'm not supposed to touch it...don't remember anything about breathing it...let's vaccuum up the glass!" Which is, of course, exactly what you're not supposed to do, because breathing it is the most dangerous thing about elemental mercury. *headdesk* This is why you go to the internet first before attempting cleanup of dangerous substances, children.
So as soon as they open, I have to go down to the porter and explain myself...this will be fun. Not.
*groan*
Can I start this weekend over, please?
no subject
Date: 2005-01-16 09:00 am (UTC)Apparently in England, they give them out for free at student health centers. I'm pretty sure it's mercury, anyway...no other thermometer substance does the millions-of-gleaming-little-balls thing, does it?
I wouldn't be surprised if the carpet (and perhaps vaccuum) have to be scrapped.
I've read conflicting reports on whether they should or not. For my peace of mind, I wish they would take the carpet up, but the porter and janitors I talked to said, "nah, it's fine...want us to vaccuum for you?" to which I promptly replied, "No thanks!" So I've been attacking my carpet with duct tape at various points all through the day...I think I'm to the point where it's doing me worse to bend over for that long an inhale all the dust than it is just to leave whatever little remnants that I can't see down there. I think I got almost all of it up, anyway...I collected quite the blob with a bit of stiff plastic and a Ziploc bag.
There isn't that much mercury in a thermometer, so you're probably fine.
Yeah...my mom says she and her sisters played with mercury out of broken thermometers when they were kids, so I figure I'm not doing too badly in comparison. ;) Plus kids and pregnant women seem to be the most at risk for any harm coming from it.
Let me know how it goes and I hope you feel much better soon! < big hugs >
Thanks. :)