The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued a warning after a dramatic surge in burns associated with hot water bottles and microwaveable heat pads, and is calling on the public to implement urgent safety measures to prevent severe injuries.
National Burn Awareness Day 2025 (Wednesday October 15) will spotlight the dangers of accidental burns from these everyday household products, with fresh statistics from Children’s Burns Trust and the International Burn Injury Database (iBID) revealing a 100 per cent spike in injuries over the past five years.
During 2024 alone, over 1,000 incidents were documented, marking the highest yearly figure in more than 20 years. RoSPA wants people who own a hot water bottle to check both its age and condition.
People are also urged to avoid overfilling them, to never lie or sit on them, and to use a fabric cover or towel to avoid direct contact with the skin.
These measures are particularly vital for households with children, who face the greatest risk of burn and scald injuries.
Ken Dunn, consultant burns and plastic surgeon (retired) and Vice Chair of The Children’s Burns Trust, said: “It’s alarming to see such a sharp increase in burns caused by hot water bottles, particularly in young children. We know that these injuries can lead to long-term physical and psychological effects, which is why prevention is crucial.
“As the colder months of the year approach – coupled with the ongoing financial strain that many households are under – we’re urging families to avoid using hot water bottles for children. If you do use them at all in the home, you should remember two key pieces of information about how to use them safely – never fill them with boiling water and always check the rubber flower symbol found on the neck which shows which month and year the hot water bottle was made.