To remind people NOT to use hot water bottles?

Just remembered loved the smell of rubber when I was pregnant 34 years ago.
I used to chew my hot water bottle fgs !!

Woman injured by heated blanket

Heated Wheat Bags Can Cause Burn Injuries

OK, we can throw these out as well. Now what?

I think there is a British Safety Standard for them, I definitely have seen Kite marks on some. I'll check tomorrow on mine.

My 98 year old mum loved her hot water bottle, until a new carer put boiling water in it, it burned my mum's leg but not badly and thank goodness it didn't burst. Like anything, they need to be used correctly.

I didn't die (clearly) but I did have a stroke (10 months ago, & they still don't know why)

Can anyone shed more light on the idea that they can "explode" please?

I'm am aware they can leak from the top, or if they perish they can seep from anywhere, and they can burst if perished or under pressure (like the poster above who sat on hers, they're never going to survive that). And I know if you don't expel the air then the air can expand and this can contribute to them bursting.

But, exploding, no.

I have a temperature controlled kettle so I know I only fill mine at 85deg, and I put an inch of cold water in first too. And I expel the air bubble at the top. And it has a cover. And I buy new ones pretty regularly.

I'm aware that 85deg water would still cause a bad scald if it came into contact with the skin.

I’ve personally never had issues but I have been weary of “cheap” hot water bottles and I wonder if the quality has declined, along with all manufacturing - it’s not like you need a certificate to sell one.

I attach my stopper to the bottle with a hair elastic

Totally agree!!

Fair to say I’ve got a brain and I’m not a complete fuckwit (nod to previous poster). But I still use an old ish hot water bottle with boiling water. I’ll lower the temp a bit and get a new one, but won’t give it up. Wheat bags are nowhere near warm enough for long enough. My family have used hot water bottles my whole life and never had an issue. But agree it’s wise to minimise risk.

Surely everyone decides for themselves.

I was advised not to use them due to hand issues but wouldn't stop anyone else using one

I'll stick to my heated hoodie and the risk associated with powerbanks

Where are you - it’s 19 degrees here today!

It’s a rare occurrence,
Cars tend to crash too sometimes and even causes fatalities and yet everyone still drives them

They’re safe to use as long as they’re within date. I popped into my local charity shop and saw some nice ones on sale - checked their use by date and all of them should have been thrown away about 5 years ago so I notified the manager and she threw them out,

What dates ? I’ve had the same one since the 1970’s, seems fine.

Your poor friend.

yes, we all do 'stupid' things at times & sometimes (mostly) we're lucky, but sometimes we pay the price

I can't stand the smell of them either!

No I did my risk assessment & put mine in the loft, in a box, where it's happily lived for several years now

(actually while packing stuff away during a renovation, but it has stayed up there 🤣)

Hot water bottles are good. However check that they are ok by looking for the flower symbol near the top of the bottle.
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.13 Jan 2025

Love my hot water bottle amd had one by my feet for over 40 years in winter and before that my mum made us a ceramic one !!!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

All kinds of things are dangerous if you sit in them! Doesn't mean people should be told 'not to use them' for their INTENDED use.

I’ve just treated myself to a nice new hot bot today and I’m currently lying in bed with the leccy blanket on underneath me and the hot bot perched on my belly.

Clearly my demise is imminent.

At least I’ll die snug.

And sleeping pills that may cause drowsiness 🤣

I don't find the wheat bags stay hot long enough - and I lived with someone who had one catch fire in the microwave at uni after heavy use so I'm a bit wary of them. Similarly I was brought up never to use an electric blanket because they're very dangerous- a family friend died after hers caught fire during use.

I am pretty careful with hot water bottles although I do like them made as hot possible for period pain. One on the small of my back and one on my belly after a very hot bath and some ibuprofen is the best thing for a bad period. We're careful about squeezing the air out and letting the kettle cool before filling. We usually also make them a bit early so the bed is warm/ they're not too hot and any leaks hopefully aren't on us. We often put them out as we get in and pull up the huge cosy blanket to help keep all the heat in.

Those long ones are really great but I did make the mistake of falling asleep with one lying along my inner leg, and found tbst the skin above the knee there is far less able to tolerate heat that feet, where I'd normally put the traditional oblong ones.
Almost burnt.
So extra prudence with the water temperature in those ones.