Burn injuries from the popular item has risen to the highest amount in more than 20 years which is a huge concern
Winter is fast approaching and as the temperatures dip and the nights get colder, many Brits might turn to their trusty hot water bottle to keep them warm in bed, or cosy on the sofa while they are watching a festive flick.
People may have invested in a new hot water bottle after harbouring the same one for years, while others might not see the point. After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it?
However, those people might want to take heed, as a warning has been issued to take extra safety precautions when using hot water bottles, after figures revealed a rise in burn injuries caused by the common household item.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has advised people to check the age and condition of their hot water bottles and to avoid overfilling them ahead of National Burns Awareness Day on October 15.
Burn injuries from hot water bottles increased by 11 per cent between 2023 and 2024, to 978 cases, according to data from the Children’s Burns Trust and the International Burn Injury Database (iBID).
This is the highest annual total for more than 20 years.
Meanwhile, figures show the number of injuries have almost doubled in five years, from 499 in 2019.
Ken Dunn, retired consultant burns and plastic surgeon, and vice chairman of the Children’s Burns Trust, said: “It’s alarming to see such a sharp increase in burns caused by hot water bottles , particularly in young children.
“We know that these injuries can lead to long-term physical and psychological effects, which is why prevention is crucial.
“As the colder months of the year approach – coupled with the ongoing financial strain that many households are under – we’re urging families to avoid using hot water bottles for children.”
Scots who use them at all in the home should heed “two key pieces of information” about how to use them safely.
“Never fill them with boiling water and always check the rubber flower symbol found on the neck which shows which month and year the hot water bottle was made,” Ken said.
“Any bottle older than two years old should be replaced.”
A national committee to review and update the hot water bottle standard has been reinstated by the British Standards Institution (BSI) “with the aim of giving manufacturers clear guidance to improve product safety.”
The last standard was published in 2012 but the committee overseeing it was disbanded in 2024 because there was no chair was in place.
Adrian Simpson, head of policy at RoSPA, added: “These items can still pose risks – especially older ones – wo we urge the public to follow simple safety steps to stay warm without injury.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.dailyrecord.co.uk
