To remind you all to throw out old hot water bottles

[Qwertyyui]

I just learned the hard way that old ones do burst and boiling water actually can remove skin from your body! I never realised it could cause such damage and assumed if it happened I'd have a light red mark not a nurse peeling skin off my thigh! If it's more than 2 years replace it!

They did mention it and Google told me but I couldn't work out how to do it (get my entire leg under cold water) and I think I was in shock and denial that it could be really bad and was kind of willing myself to be exaggerating and figured once the clothes etc were off and wet kitchen roll was on it it might have been the same! I hope to god I'm never in this position again!!

Mine says to not fill more than two thirds....

Holy shit. I did kind of know they wore out but have never got round to it. Mine are all pre-pandemic at the very least. My office one is well over a decade old.
Will bin all and replace this week.

Hope you heal well.

When my little niece pulled a cup of tea over herself I got her under the bath tap, shower would have done if you turn the thermostat to cold. But it IS really difficult to remember everything when you're in a bit of shock, as no doubt you were. I only mention it really so more people do know what to do if this happens, as speed is of the essence - the sooner you can get the damaged skin cells chilled the better.

Of course you don't expect HBW to burst, we had ancient ones when I was a kid and none of them split or leaked (although my mum always put hottish water in, never boiled even mixed with some cold - I always wanted mine hotter). I think I've actually been very lucky with them not to have had any issues.

I checked ours, we had two and they were both 2016!

I do feel for you, it's rotten and I hope it's better for your holiday

I hope it recovers quickly and doesn’t leave any scarring. I never thought to bin and replace them so I’m grateful for the warning but what a tough lesson! Hope the appointment goes well x

Just to update the bottom of my leg is fine but the top had to have more skin removed and they think it will take a good few weeks to dry out before it doesn't need dressing. So much more painful than before but I am guessing that is expected. I'd upload a photo of it but it's really gross and might be a bit much for some!

ah bless you xxx thanks so much for this thread - get well soon x

You aren't meant to use boiling water

Do people fill them to the top?? I use a 1.7L kettle, left to cool, between two 1.8L bottles.

Luckily mine was only about 1/4 full and had been sat on the side for about 10 mins so could have been a lot worse I just didn't move fast enough and also was wearing shorts and tights so was basically onto bare flesh. Jeans might have taken some of the hit!

Just wondering how you are you @Qwertyyui?

Yes! Please listen to OPs advice (I hope you heal quickly OP).

This happened to my DD. She went to bed with a hot water bottle for a tummy ache. Woke me at 5am to say her bed was wet - the hot water bottle had burst in the night - but thank god it had cooled before it burst, so she was just wet, not scalded. Old hot water bottles are very dangerous!

Op that looks painful.
Good reminder, I had mine ready to chuck actually but forgot. Bin tomorrow thank you.

No jeans may have stuck to you

For a year??

@WhereYouLeftIt I still use a stone piggy - it doesn't seem to go as cold and clammy as a rubber one when it cools down.

When I worked as a carer I found one of the men pouring boiling water into a hot water bottle and then microwaving it as "it gets cold by the time you pour it in"

My face was