Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: November 10, 2003
Contact: Robert Vanderslice, (401) 222-7766

HEALTH Announces Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program; Protects Health and Prevents Pollution

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announces a Mercury Thermometer & Thermostat Exchange to be held at 2 locations on Saturday, November 15, 2003, in partnership with: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), CVS/Pharmacy, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Warwick Fire Department, The Providence Fire Department, and Clean Water Fund.

Participants will receive a Free Digital Thermometer or Free $5 CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last) good for $5.00 off their purchase at their local CVS/Pharmacy by trading in your old mercury fever thermometer or mercury home thermostat. Residential materials ONLY. One per family. Bring the thermometer in its original container or a plastic ziploc bag.

The two Rhode Island locations are:

• Warwick Fire Department
  140 Veterans Memorial Drive
  Saturday, November 15, 2003
  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• Providence Fire Department
  847 Broad Street
  Saturday, November 15, 2003
  10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Accidental mercury releases from broken mercury thermometers and thermostats in the home present a risk to your family’s health. When mercury-containing products are broken or thrown in the trash, outdoors or down the drain, the mercury can pollute our environment. People can be exposed to mercury by breathing fumes, eating contaminated fish or touching spilled mercury.

Help to safely dispose of mercury by bringing mercury fever thermometer or thermostats to one of the free disposal sites and receive either a free digital thermometer or free $5 CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last).

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announces a Mercury Thermometer & Thermostat Exchange to be held at 2 locations on Saturday, November 15, 2003, in partnership with: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), CVS/Pharmacy, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, The Warwick Fire Department, The Providence Fire Department, and Clean Water Fund.

Participants will receive a Free Digital Thermometer or Free $5 CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last) good for $5.00 off their purchase at their local CVS/Pharmacy by trading in your old mercury fever thermometer or mercury home thermostat. Residential materials ONLY. One per family. Bring the thermometer in its original container or a plastic ziploc bag.

The two Rhode Island locations are:

• Warwick Fire Department
  140 Veterans Memorial Drive
  Saturday, November 15, 2003
  10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• Providence Fire Department
  847 Broad Street
  Saturday, November 15, 2003
  10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Accidental mercury releases from broken mercury thermometers and thermostats in the home present a risk to your family’s health. When mercury-containing products are broken or thrown in the trash, outdoors or down the drain, the mercury can pollute our environment. People can be exposed to mercury by breathing fumes, eating contaminated fish or touching spilled mercury.

Help to safely dispose of mercury by bringing mercury fever thermometer or thermostats to one of the free disposal sites and receive either a free digital thermometer or free $5 CVS ExtraBucks Coupon (while supplies last).