‘I was badly scalded after hot water bottle burst’

A woman has described the agonising moment she was severely scalded when a hot water bottle burst on her thigh.

Karen O’Brien said she was badly hurt when boiling water spilled on to her as she sat on the sofa at her home in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

The 52-year-old said she remained scarred after the incident in March 2024, and wanted to warn people of the potential dangers of using hot water bottles.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is advising people not to keep a hot water bottle for more than two years because the rubber can deteriorate over time.

Mrs O’Brien was among 95 people who were treated for burns from hot water bottles at Leicester’s hospital between 2020 and 2024, according to NHS figures.

“I think my hot water bottle was probably about seven years old, ” Mrs O’Brien said.

“I didn’t know that you were supposed to look on the top of the hot water bottle [where] it says the date or how long it’s been manufactured for.

“I knew nothing about that. I was unaware that you’re only supposed to keep them for a year to two years maximum and then throw them out regardless, even if they look okay.”

Mrs O’Brien said she had made the mistake of filling her hot water bottle from the kettle.

She said: “I had it on my lap, got comfy on the sofa, just sat back and then it burst.

“Nothing touched it, it wasn’t squeezed or anything, it just burst.

“The pain was unreal.

“I was kind of in shock because I didn’t know what had happened at that moment.

“I just felt this intense pain on my leg. I jumped up, hot water bottle went on the floor, water went everywhere.”

Mrs O’Brien said a neighbour heard her screams and ran round to try to help before she went to the Leicester Royal Infirmary, where she had treatment to remove large amounts of damaged skin.

She said the experience had left her wary of very hot water, including boiling drinks, and reluctant to wear shorts.

She urged people to fill hot water bottles from a running tap and not give them to children.

She added: “If you’ve had your hot water bottle for longer than a year, throw it away, buy a new one, but if you can, just don’t use one at all.

“It’s not worth the risk.”

RoSPA’s head of policy Adrian Simpson said: “Always buy hot water bottles from reputable retailers.

“Rubber deteriorates over time, so regularly check for signs of wear and tear.

“The age of a hot water bottle can be found on a daisy wheel imprinted on the neck or body of most bottles.

“This flower symbol indicates the month and year when it was made.”

He added: “The most common causes of hot water bottle-related injuries include using boiling water, overfilling the bottle, and using bottles that are old or damaged.

“Burns can occur if the bottle bursts or leaks, or if it comes into direct contact with the skin.”