Hot Water Bottles

Hot water bottles are used by some, particularly in cold weather to pre-warm their bed, or for comfort to ease pain.

The water bottles are typically made from rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The Potential Problem

Every year, around 200 people in Australia are admitted to hospital with serious burns related to hot water bottles. Many of the incidents involve leaking hot water from old or defective water bottles. Check out these steps you can take to stay warm and safe this winter

Risks and Injuries

Hot water bottles can cause burns if placed directly on the skin. These burns are serious and happen gradually, often the user cannot feel these burns until it is too late. Hot water bottle burns can lead to third degree burns and may require skin grafts. The skin of younger and older people is often thinner and more delicate and vulnerable to more serious burns. Diabetics are prone to burns to their hands and feet while using a hot water bottle.

Hot water bottles can burst or leak if used improperly or poorly manufactured.

Expiry Date for Hot Water Bottles

Many users don’t realise the rubber or PVC in hot water bottles deteriorate over time like many other products and need to be replaced periodically.

 All competent manufacturer’s mark their products with the date of manufacture and recommend replacement if more than 3 years old.

Hot water bottles are date marked with a 'daisy wheel' date, which indicates when the item was manufactured. Each of the 12 segments in the daisy wheel represents a month of the year, starting with January at the top, progressing clockwise until the 12th segment, which represents December.

 The last segment in a clockwise direction with dots indicates the month the bottle was made. Each dot in the last segment with dots in it represents the week of the month the bottle was made. For example, three dots equal the third week.

 This daisy wheel shows that the manufacturer produced this bottle in the third week of February in 2008.

 Buying tips

• Ideally, buy a new hot water bottle every year. Hot water bottles that are in good condition on the outside may be damaged on the inside.

• Check the daisy wheel date when buying a new bottle and note the year of manufacture. If it is more than 3 years old and/or appears aged or faded, don’t buy it.

Safe use

• Don’t overfill or use boiling water in your hot water bottle – use hot tap water.

• Examine the hot water bottle before using and throw it away if it leaks, looks cracked, damaged, brittle, worn or faded.

• Always use a hot water bottle cover or wrap the bottle in a towel or fabric to prevent the bottle being in direct contact with the skin.

• Remove hot water bottle from bed before going to bed to avoid rolling onto it and bursting it. Do not lie, rest, or put pressure or weight on a hot water bottle.

• Store the hot water bottle by hanging it upside down with the stopper removed in a dark, dry place and make sure it is completely dry inside and out before putting away.

• Mark your hot water bottle, the year and month it is due to be replaced.

115_Avoid Hot water bottle burns A3 poster_FA.indd (productsafety.gov.au)