When was the last time you checked your hot water bottle?
Kristina Stiles, client liaison manager in the personal injury department, discusses how to check for and address dangers with hot water bottles, as well as how to deal with burns and scalds.
Posted on 16 October 2024
There has been a significant rise in hot water bottle scalds seen in burns services across the UK.
UK burns services admit on average one person a day due to burns and scalds sustained while filling or using hot water bottles. Almost one-fifth of people with a hot water bottle burn require formal hospital admission, despite most injuries being small in size (affecting on average less than 5 per cent of total body surface area) and of predominantly superficial partial thickness in depth[2].
Hot water bottle burns mainly affect adults (17-64 years old) and are seen to be disproportionately dominant in the female population (69.7 per cent)[1,2].
Between the years 2014 and 2023, the cost burden to the NHS from hot water bottle burn injuries was approximately £12.7 million. December 2021 was the most expensive month in this nine-year period, costing the NHS £733,927.15[2].
Since 2021, the largest increases in hot water bottle related burns were reported in children (0-16 years old) and older adults (greater than 65 years old), with a rise of 60.3 per cent and 68.5 per cent respectively.[2] Brand new data from the International Burn Injury Database also shows that burn and scalds to children in the first eight months of 2024 increased by 55 per cent compared with the same period in 2023.
This alarming rise is largely attributed to the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has led many people to rely more heavily on hot water bottles as a cost-effective way to stay warm[1].
UK burns services are projecting they may see even more scald injuries as a result of the recent removal of automatic Winter Fuel Payments for those not on means-tested benefits, and the energy price cap having risen by 10 per cent from October 2024.
Most of us will have a hot water bottle that has served our household for many years – soothing our aches and pains, giving us comfort, and being an essential part of keeping warm on a cosy night in.
While hot water bottles are a useful tool, they also present a serious burn risk if not used correctly. Rubber deteriorates over time, so old hot water bottles can burst or leak and cause serious burns that may be severe enough to require a hospital admission.
Hot water bottles can cause injury in multiple ways as a result of:
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Spillage from filling
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Rupture
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Leakage or failure of seal
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Prolonged contact with skin
Scalds from hot liquids are the most common and some of the most severe injuries in young children and older adults seen by specialist burns services. Many burns and scalds are caused because a hot water bottle is not filled, used or cared for properly, or because it has perished or is out of date. Contact burns may also occur due to prolonged exposure, particularly with individuals who do not have normal skin sensation.
As part of the National Burn Awareness Day, on 16 October 2024, Children’s Burns Trust are sharing some tips on how to avoid burns and help you enjoy your hot water bottle safely.
Check for signs of wear and tear:
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Inspect your hot water bottle carefully.
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Look out for cracks, fading or small holes. Check for leaks by putting cold water in the bottle first.
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Bin it if there are any signs of leaks or if it looks cracked, damaged or brittle.
Keep an eye on the flower symbol which indicates exactly when it was made:
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All hot water bottles have a daisy-like flower symbol either on the inside or outside of the neck, or on the body of the hot water bottle. Look for it!
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The number in the centre of the daisy wheel is the year, the 12 segments represent the months, and the dots within segments represent the week that the bottle was manufactured. This lets you know if it is more than two years old and should be replaced.
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The rubber will naturally deteriorate over two years of usage and storage, so replace your hot water bottle every two years - even if it hadn’t been used much.
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Avoid buying a second-hand hot water bottle or one that has been produced over two years ago, as how a hot water bottle is stored affects its rate of deterioration.
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If you have teens or aging members of the family, remember to check on their hot water bottles too.
Never fill a hot water bottle with boiling water:
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Use cooled boiled water from the kettle to fill the hot water bottle. Let the boiled water cool for roughly five minutes before filling.
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Fill to a maximum of two thirds full.
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Carefully let out the air from the bottle, holding the neck away from you as you do it, before putting the stopper on.
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Make sure the stopper is screwed on tightly.
Use your hot water bottle safely:
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Never put a hot water bottle in your baby’s sleep space.
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Use a cover or wrap the hot water bottle in a towel to prevent direct contact with your skin.
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Do not leave the hot water bottle on one part of your body for too long as burns can occur gradually, especially if you have conditions that impair your sensation like neuropathy or diabetes.
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Avoid laying, resting, sitting, or putting pressure on a hot water bottle as it may cause it to burst.
In case of a burn, the NHS advises prompt first aid to limit the amount of damage to the skin:
COOL the burn with cool running water for 20 minutes if within three hours of burn injury. Remove any clothing, nappies, and jewellery near the burn (unless it is melted or firmly stuck to the wound).
CALL for help for any burn larger than a 50p coin: NHS 111 or your local GP for advice, or in an emergency dial 999.
COVER the cooled burn with loose clingfilm or a clean, non-fluffy dressing or cloth until it’s reviewed by a healthcare professional. Make sure to keep the injured person warm.
As energy prices continue to rise, we are all trying to avoid turning up the thermostat and instead look for alternative ways to keep warm in the house. But before you reach for your trusty hot water bottle, can you honestly say – when was the last time you checked that it is still up to the job?
Useful Links:
Link to NHS guidance on burns and scalds: Burns and scalds - Treatment - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Link to CBT Hot Water Bottle Safety Information: Hot Water Bottles - Children's Burns Trust (cbtrust.org.uk)
Link to National Burn Awareness Day: National Burn Awareness Day - Children's Burns Trust (cbtrust.org.uk)
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Sangha, M.S., Baker, M., Baldwin, A.J. and Murray, A., 2024. Assessing the effect of the cost-of-living crisis on hot water bottle-related burns in the United Kingdom, a single-centre retrospective observational study. JPRAS open, 39, pp.313-320.
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Chu, M.H., Yarlagadda, L. and Wearn, M.C., 2024. Has the energy poverty crisis fuelled a rise in hot water bottle burn injuries within the United Kingdom? Burns.