Thermometers have no shelf life. The mercury thermometer needs to be close to the skin for more than 5 minutes for the measurement result to be accurate. In the process of use, as long as you follow the operating procedures and put it away, ensure the measurement time and the results are accurate. Although the thermometer has no shelf life, the verification certificate of the thermometer has an expiration date. Thermometers beyond the validity period of verification cannot be used as qualified measuring instruments. If the measurement time is short, the conducted thermal energy cannot keep the temperature of the thermometer consistent with the skin temperature, causing measurement errors. Also note that when measuring body temperature, the skin must be careful to clamp the thermometer, especially the mercury end of the thermometer. If the mercury thermometer is broken, it can be handled by physical methods. Use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum the gaps that may contain mercury, and discard the dust bag.
