# School goes into lockdown and hazmat crew called over a thermometer.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 5, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083 "2012-12-05T17:01:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/1 "2012-12-05T17:01:05Z")
đ The stupidity of this is just⌠beyond words.
Doesnât every home have at least three old fever thermometers stuffed in a drawer somewhere? Digital ones just became common a decade ago. I still occasionally use my old style thermometers. I brought a couple home with me from hospital visits in the 80âs. I have a digital one too, but use whatever comes out of the drawer first.
What has happened to plain common sense in America? School officials pissing their panties over this? I could understand an elementary school getting upset. Young Kids have been known to play with mercury (a very bad idea). But a high school chemistry student? Chemistry labs have a lot of toxic stuff in them.
[Link.](http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/article/285396/8/School-locked-down-over-thermometer)
> [@](#):
>
> A chemistry project caused a big problem at Pinellasâ Seminole High School Tuesday morning.
>
> The Pinellas County Sheriffâs Office says students were given an assignment to bring in a substance from the Periodic Table of Elements.
>
> One student brought in mercury â contained within a thermometer â and the school went into lockdown.
>
> Deputies say the thermometer was discovered as the substances were checked before going through the school.
>
> No one was put in harmâs way, but a hazmat crew was there as a precaution.
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### Author:  [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/2 "2012-12-05T17:05:06Z")
Yes, that is a gross over-reaction.
I remember when I was in school, my science textbook had a picture of someone holding liquid mercury in their bare hands.
Itâs not exactly nuclear wasteâŚ
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/3 "2012-12-05T17:08:41Z")
Iâm thinking of all the Acids, bases, and salt experiments we did. HCL is fine in a chem lab experiment, but a thermometer terrifies the school?
Remember how NA (sodium) reacts to a pipette of water? Very volatile. Handling this stuff safely was part of the learning experience.
2Na(s) + 2H2O â 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/4 "2012-12-05T17:15:38Z")
When I started reading, I assumed the thermometer was broken. (What do you do then? Sop it up with a sponge? But do what with the sponge? 50+ years ago, I popped a thermometer with a match wanting to play hookey, canât remember how my Mom cleaned it up.)
But I see no description of the breakage in this thread. Surely, youâre not speaking of an _unbroken_ thermometer? đ
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/5 "2012-12-05T17:17:38Z")
Yup we are? đ the ever vigilant high school security found it as they searched the kids coming into school.
Longer article that I found.
[http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1264539.ece](http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1264539.ece)
> [@](#):
>
> As a precaution, a teacher called the principal, who called authorities.
>
> Within minutes, fully equipped hazmat investigators and firefighters bore down on the building. School officials rummaged through the bookbags and lockers of the 125 students assigned the project.
>
> Some 2,200 students were locked down in first-period classes.
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> âItâs almost stupid,â said sophomore Kyle Salvaggio.
>
> In the end, about 10 projects â âanything that could potentially be dangerousâ â were taken from students, said Pinellas Schools spokeswoman Melanie Marquez.
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### Author:  [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/6 "2012-12-05T17:20:57Z")
What does ââŚthe thermometer was discovered as the substances were checked before going through the schoolâ mean? Do the students at this school have to go through airport-style security before going to class?
Definitely an over-reaction. I could maybe see them not allowing it into the school in case it was accidentally broken, but obviously an intact mercury thermometer in and of itself poses no threat. My guess is that the whole circus started over a miscommunication. Someone called the office and said âJohnny is bringing a thermometer with mercury in it for a chemistry class demonstrationâ and after passing through two or three people the message became âJohnny broke a mercury thermometer in chemistry class.â The resulting clearing of the school and Hazmat team is still overkill, but not completely surprising.
When I was in high school (late 90âs-early 2000âs) someone broke a mercury thermometer in chemistry class. The teacher cleaned up the spill according to some established procedure, and the room was off-limits with the windows open for a day or two. I would have LOVED to have school canceled instead though!
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/7 "2012-12-05T17:22:29Z")
Maybe theyâre concerned about some of the kids designing and producing headwear whilst descending into insanity, as a result?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/8 "2012-12-05T17:30:03Z")
Iâm wondering what high school chemistry labs use in todays classes? Have they stripped out any chemical or acid that is possibly dangerous? Is lemon juice the only acid allowed? đ
I donât understand what schools are doing anymore.
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### Author:  [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/9 "2012-12-05T17:31:37Z")
> [@](#):
>
> âanything that could potentially be dangerousâ
This is a pretty long list of possibilities.
> **[Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - dihydrogen monoxide info](https://dhmo.org/)**
>
> Dihydrogen Monoxide
> resources, information, research and more. Dihydrogen
> Monoxide is a dangerous chemical. Buy a Ban Dihydrogen
> Monoxide T-shirt.
---
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/10 "2012-12-05T18:06:41Z")
Yes, it was an over-reaction, but the news link says that students were specifically instructed NOT to bring certain toxic substances for the exercise.
Just suspend the kid for the day and unbunch the panties, admin. And switch to decaf.
For real fun, check out [this associated article.](http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/272775/19/Police-Michael-Smeriglio-accidentally-shoots-off-his-penis-and-testicle-friend-arrested-on-drug-charge-)
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### Author:  [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/11 "2012-12-05T18:15:45Z")
I bet the school uses fluorescent light bulbs. Better call in the hazmat team until they can all be replaced with LEDs.
I wonder if my neighbors or the city would go nuts if they know I have some vintage electrical equipment (didnât the transformers and oil filled capacitors usually contain PCBs).
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/12 "2012-12-05T18:59:16Z")
âThen where the hell is my pen?â
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/13 "2012-12-05T19:01:02Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> âThen where the hell is my pen?â
Some asshole took it.
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/14 "2012-12-05T19:10:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Remember how NA (sodium) reacts to a pipette of water? Very volatile. Handling this stuff safely was part of the learning experience.
We got the Potassium/water reaction in Chemistry class. The teacher did it mind you, they werenât letting us kids get our hands on the stuff! đ
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### Author:  [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/15 "2012-12-05T19:30:41Z")
> [@Mdcastleman](#):
>
> I bet the school uses fluorescent light bulbs. Better call in the hazmat team until they can all be replaced with LEDs.
Thatâs what I thought of immediately. Everybodyâs supposed to switch to fluorescents to save energy. What if one breaks and the (admittedly small amount of) mercury inside gets out? Evacuate the room! Open the windows! Get rid of the carpet it spilled on! Etc.
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### Author:  [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/16 "2012-12-05T19:57:30Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> We got the Potassium/water reaction in Chemistry class. The teacher did it mind you, they werenât letting us kids get our hands on the stuff! đ
We made _gunpowder_ in 7th grade chemistry.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/17 "2012-12-05T20:12:55Z")
> [@solosam](#):
>
> I remember when I was in school, my science textbook had a picture of someone holding liquid mercury in their bare hands.
And that could have been a picture of me.
Back when I was in school, the teacher let us all play with the mercury. As I recall, the only concern was making sure none of us stole it.
That said, this isnât just hysteria. Exposure to mercury and mercury vapor really does harm people. But a single exposure like the linked article described is not going to hurt anyone.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/18 "2012-12-05T20:26:07Z")
Hereâs a [picture](http://periodictable.com/Images/MercuryMiner.JPG) of a guy floating on top of a huge pool of mercury.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/19 "2012-12-05T20:53:01Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> We made _gunpowder_ in 7th grade chemistry.
Heck, my friend made nerve gas in public school!
(Okay, it was at home, and not officially allowed, but stillâŚ)
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### Author:  [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/school-goes-into-lockdown-and-hazmat-crew-called-over-a-thermometer/643083/20 "2012-12-05T21:19:38Z")
A guy in my science class decided to see how hot the bunsen burner flame was by sticking the bulb end of a thermometer into it (not the brightest guy in the room it must be said). Blew the top off the thermometer and sprayed half the class room with glass and mercury.
The teacher just made sure we found as much as we could and got it into a jar. Fun stuff to play with.
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