October 24 marked a small milestone in home medical care. After decades of using the classic thermometer to take your body temperature, 2020 has seen a rise in different types of electronic options. But the most old school is still the small glass one filled with mercury.
Recently China’s National Medical Products Administration has officially banned the product from the market due to it being a frequent safety hazard. By January 1, 2026, China plans on eliminating this product completely from households.
A typical mercury thermometer contains about one gram of mercury. If broken, the liquid will evaporate and is enough to contaminate a 15 square meter wide area and has a three-meter high reach.
In China, the old fashioned mercury thermometer is still the most purchased choice by families due to its simplicity and low cost. While it’s a tiny change in home healthcare, hopefully the new regulation will prevent families from having to rush their children to the ER from a small broken mercury-filled thermometer.
This flu season, keep your temperature in check but do it with a product that’s safe for the whole family.
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Photos: Unsplash
