The hidden dangers behind your winter warmers

As the winter chill well and truly sets in with the first of two cold fronts due to lash down on our east coast from Wednesday, Australians are being warned to think twice before they reach for the hot water bottle or electric blanket while trying to warm up.

Around 200 people are admitted to hospital with serious burns related to hot water bottles each year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimated.

Also at risk are electric blankets, where using them while damaged or faulty can cause an electric shock or fire hazard.

When it comes to injuries from hot water bottles, these can vary from minor superficial burns, scalds, and deep full thickness burns.

In severe cases, patients may even require surgery and skin grafts, warned Yvonne Singer, a burns educator at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.

While hot water bottles seem like harmless winter comforters, they can pose serious dangers, she added.

“[Hot water burns are] extremely traumatic. They’re extremely painful. And the pain doesn’t just stop at the time of the injury – it goes on for the entire process until the wound actually heals,” Ms Singer told the ACCC.

“They’re physically and psychologically draining.”

Arthritis sufferer Peta-Marie Penfold became badly burned when a hot water bottle burst in her lap while she was trying to ease the pain of her joints.

“On the night I was burnt, I had filled one of several hot water bottles that I had used regularly. Sometime after I’d filled the water bottle I was lying in bed and I noticed my lap was all wet,” she said.

“The bottle had split along the top about an inch long. I didn’t feel it immediately. I don’t know why I didn’t feel the water – because of the arthritis, maybe? My husband got me into the shower and then called an ambulance.

“It was very painful. I went straight to emergency and I ended up in hospital for two weeks,” she told.

Ms Penfold received full thickness burns to her stomach, upper thigh and leg, which required skin grafts.

“I always saw my hot water bottle as a source of comfort and a way to relieve my pain. But now I’d like everyone to know that using a hot water bottle is full of hidden dangers,” she warned.

Hot water bottle safety tips

The ACCC advised Australians to replace their hot water bottle at the start of each winter and follow the instructions for filling and use. In addition, the consumer watchdog also advised:

• Don’t fill your hot water bottle directly with boiling water from a kettle;

• Avoid using boiling water as it damages and weakens the material the bottle is made from;

• Be sure to remove any excess air from the bottle before you fill it;

• Don’t leave the water bottle on one part of the body for too long;

• Use a towel or specially-designed cover and create a barrier between the bottle and the skin

• Avoid leaving the hot water bottle on the same spot for more than 20 minutes at a time.

• Older people with sensitive skin, and people with reduced feeling in parts of their bodies, should avoid using hot water bottles.

Electric blanket dangers

If electric blankets are stored during warmer months, the ACCC advised to look out for any frayed fabric, exposed elements, damaged cords or scorch marks before using them again.

Consumers are also warned against sleeping with an electric blanket on. It’s advised to use them only to warm beds, then switch them off before jumping under the covers.

And once the colder months are over, always store electric blankets rolled up rather than folded to prevent damage, the consumer watchdog urged.

Heaters and fireplaces

Heaters need to be checked every year, no matter how old they are. Similarly, regular maintenance of fireplaces, combustion heaters, flues and chimneys must be undertaken by a qualified person a minimum of once a year. It’s a good time to do this before the winter chill sets in.

If you’re heating clothing or other laundry by the heater, a minimum of one metre clearance is recommended.

Let’s not forget the children and pets: Ensure they are supervised at all times while heaters are in use.

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