Mayo Clinic Health System

Contact: Paul Meznarich
715-838-5805

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — As part of its commitment to the environment, Luther Midelfort sites throughout north-central Wisconsin will be collecting mercury-based fever thermometers and exchanging them with digital thermometers for free. The free thermometers are limited to one per family; however, people can bring in as many medical thermometers containing mercury as they’d like to dispose.

“Mercury can have long-lasting neurological effects, especially in children,” says Luther Midelfort quality resource specialist T.J. Burke. “By safely collecting and properly disposing thermometers containing mercury, we can all do our part in making the environment safer for everyone.”

People should place their mercury-based thermometers in a zip-lock plastic bag when bringing them to be exchanged. Exchanges will take place:

Aug. 30 – Sept. 10:

• Luther Midelfort Northland (Barron, Cameron, Chetek and Rice Lake), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Luther Midelfort Northland (Prairie Farm), 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Sept. 13 – 24:

• Luther Midelfort Chippewa Valley (Bloomer), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sept. 15 – 17:

• Luther Midelfort Chippewa Valley (Colfax), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

Sept. 27 – Oct. 8:

• Luther Midelfort Chippewa Valley (Chippewa Falls), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Oct. 11 – 23:

• Luther Midelfort Oakridge (Mondovi), 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; and 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday.
• Luther Midelfort Oakridge (Osseo), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Nov. 8 – 19:

• Midelfort Pharmacy and Home Medical, 325 E. Madison St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Midelfort Pharmacy and Home Medical, 733 W. Clairemont Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Midelfort Medical Store, inside Luther Midelfort, 1400 Bellinger St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Luther Midelfort Express Care, 2615 N. Clairemont Ave., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Luther Midelfort Express Care, 2839 Mall Drive, Suite 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All thermometers collected will be shipped to a waste management facility licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency for mercury recycling.

For more information about Luther Midelfort’s environmental initiatives, visit www.luthermidelfort.org, click on “Building Tomorrow Today,” and then select “Going Green.”

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In partnership with Mayo Clinic, Luther Midelfort offers a full range of quality medical services, including cardiac and orthopedic surgery, cancer and trauma care programs. Through a network of community-based healthcare providers in west-central Wisconsin, Luther Midelfort provides access to experts close to home.