Hot water bottle safety: Preventing burns and scalds

Doctors and nurses across the UK are urging us to use hot water bottles correctly as they can cause serious burns.

How to fill your hot water bottle safely

• Follow the instructions on the bottle
• Allow the boiled water to cool for a few minutes before filling
• Don’t fill more than two thirds of its capacity
• Carefully let out the air from the bottle before putting the stopper on
• Make sure the stopper is screwed on tightly

Using your hot water bottle safely

• Lullaby Trust advises never putting a hot water bottle in your baby’s sleep space as they can overheat
• Remind older children not to sit or lie on hot water bottles
• Never put a hot water bottle directly on your skin, use a cover

Do hot water bottles expire?

Yes, they do. Rubber deteriorates over time so old hot water bottles can break and cause serious burns. It is advised to regularly check for signs of wear and tear and not use hot water bottles that are more than two years old.

This flower symbol, found on hot water bottles, indicates exactly when it was made.

The number in the middle is the year it was made, the flower segments represent the 12 months of the year and the dots inside those represent the number of weeks. So this hot water bottle was made in April 2021.