With much of the country battling the worst wintery weather of the season, some of us are reaching for an old-fashioned way of keeping warm – the hot-water bottle.
Along with their modern equivalent, the heating pad, these can give cosy warmth, and even help reduce heating bills, but they also carry some health risks.
The most obvious ones are burns, as well as scalds from hot water bottles, but there are lesser known risks from overheating and an unusual skin reaction, called “toasted skin syndrome”. Here’s how to cut your chances of being affected:
Who is most at risk from hot-water bottle injuries?
In the UK, more than 600 people a year report burn injuries from hot water bottles. Certain groups are at particular risk.
People with nerve damage, including those with diabetes, are especially vulnerable, as they may have less sensation in their hands and feet, and may not notice quickly enough if they are getting hurt.
People with spina bifida may also have reduced sensitivity in their skin, according to NHS advice.
The same goes for people living with cerebral palsy.
Hot-water bottles are fine to use during pregnancy, although women are generally advised not to place them on their bump. Pregnancy and baby charity Tommy’s says women tend to feel warmer during pregnancy, so they should be careful not to overheat.
Hot-water bottles should also never be placed next to babies, or used to warm up their cots. That’s because overheating raises the risk of cot death, also called sudden infant death syndrome.
Children need to be taught never to sit or lie on them, says the Child Accident Prevention Trust.
What is a hot-water bottle’s ‘use-by date’?
The main scalding risk comes from the obvious one – water leaking from the bottle – either because the lid is not properly screwed on, or the container bursts.
The bottles are often made from rubber, which can crack or deteriorate over time. They should only be kept for two years, as after this the risk of damage increases.
Hot-water bottles should show the date when they were made, usually on their neck. It may be in the form of a wheel, with the last two digits of the year in the middle, and the month indicated in the surrounding circle.
This should help the owner work out when one is past its “use-by date”.
How can I avoid a burn from a hot-water bottle?
Burns can be caused even when the water stays inside, if the bottle is held directly touching the skin. The surface should always be covered with a towel or blanket, to avoid direct skin contact.
Failing to use a cover, or heating up the skin for too long, can lead to marks on the skin – known as toasted skin syndrome or hot-water bottle rash. It can also be caused by people resting a laptop on their legs for long periods.
If the overheating has gone on for a long time, the rash can be permanent.
To reduce the risk of burns and scalds, hot-water bottles should not be filled with boiling water, just very hot water.
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If you have boiled a kettle, let the water cool for about 10 minutes before using it. This is better than using water straight from the hot tap, as this can contain minerals that could damage the rubber over time.
Bottles should be filled up to about two thirds full and then very gently squeezed to get rid of some of the air.
Some health bodies advise that people should not get into bed with a hot-water bottle, but should use it to warm up the bed instead, before getting in.
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