Beware the perils of hot-water bottles

I read with dismay the article in last week’s Mail on Sunday regarding the soaring sales of hot-water bottles due to Britons turning down the heating.

My sister is currently an outpatient at a burns unit in Salisbury after suffering serious burns as a result of a seizure.

At her last appointment, both the patients ahead of her were there due to accidents with hot-water bottles. One lady had hers burst when putting it on an aching shoulder.

It left her with burns that were so painful to dress she needed gas and air relief.

The other, a pensioner, had burns to her abdomen and feet because she had not properly secured the cap.

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks ago I commented to hospital staff that they must be dreading Bonfire Night but was told that the biggest cause of burns and serious scalds are due to hot-water bottles bursting due to their old age or accidents when filling them.

Given the current energy crisis, I quite understand people’s reasoning, but please take care and make sure that when you dig out that hot-water bottle, it’s fit for use.

Jo Hexeltine, Poole, Dorset