AS TEMPERATURES drop at night residents are being urged to take extra safety precautions with hot water bottles and microwaveable warmers.
On National Burn Awareness Day 2025 (October 15) the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has raised concerns over a sharp rise in burns from these household items.
Figures from Children’s Burns Trust and the International Burn Injury Database (iBID) showing a 100 per cent increase in injuries over the past five years.
In 2024 around 1,000 cases were recorded — the highest annual total in over 20 years.
RoSPA’s advice includes – check the age and condition of hot water bottles, avoid overfilling and never sit or lie on them and use a fabric cover or wrap the bottle in a towel to prevent direct contact with skin.
RoSPA say these steps are especially important for households with children, who are most at risk of burn and scald injuries.
Ken Dunn, consultant burns and plastic surgeon (retired) and vice chair of The Children’s Burns Trust, said: “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.
“If you do use them at all in the home, you should remember 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.
“Any bottle older than two years old should be replaced.”
