does anyone know what the procedure is to avoid breaking a thermometer?

Im am taking a really old exam for a job i just started its a little outdated! lol
Avoid dropping them? Sorry, I have never heard of such a "procedure."

Store it safely?

Make sure there's something soft for it to land on!!!

what a weird question. doesn't everyone use tympanic these days that you can't break unless you drop, throw against a wall etc?

>< I broke one once - I dropped it, and it split in two. I thought tympanic ones were sturdy - it was just my luck

I dunno about avoiding breakage; are you sure they weren't asking about what to do if you did break one, referring to the old mercury-in-glass ones? There's a procedure to reduce mercury exposure that we all had to know.