WARNING: This article contains some distressing images.

After a tragic accident left her with "horrific" second-degree burns, a mum is cautioning against the potential risks of hot water bottles this winter season.

Erin Majurey shared her nightly winter ritual with 7NEWS, in which she and her daughter, age 11, would fill up their hot water bottles and climb into her bed for a nightly cuddle.

But two weeks ago, their sweet tradition tragically went awry when Erin's bottle suddenly burst, splattering scalding hot water all over her legs.

Erin disclosed that the accident with the hot water caused her to suffer burns all over her thighs, her left buttock, and her lower back. It was a good thing that her daughter was busy filling her own bottle at the time because otherwise she might have been injured as well.

In an interview, Erin recalled, "I just screamed immediately, it was the most excruciating pain." She added that her injuries started blistering right away, and she described the pain as being ‘horrifying’.

After that, she quickly stripped out of her pyjamas and ran into the bathroom to jump into the shower in an effort to stop the burns from blistering any further.

Experts say this type of accident is more common than people may think. Credit: Hot Water Bags.​

Immediately after the accident, an ambulance was called for Erin, and when the paramedics arrived, they informed her that she had suffered second degree burns.

When she arrived at the hospital, the doctors cleaned out the wounds and applied a variety of bandages, which the mum described as being an excruciatingly painful process.

"I've never felt pain like that in my life," she said.

Now, Erin has been released from the hospital and is making steady progress towards a full recovery. However, she is required to continue going to her doctor for checkups and to have her bandages changed every few days.

Furthermore, she hopes that by sharing her story, everyone will know and understand the risks associated with hot water bottles, especially during the colder months.

Because "they have an expiration," as she puts it, and because they may gradually lose their effectiveness over time, she recommends that people should replace their hot water bottles at least once every season.

Erin had burns all over her thighs, left buttock, and lower back from the hot water. Credit: 7News.​

According to Product Safety Australia, those who are using hot-water bottles should be aware of the following in order to reduce the risk of sustaining an injury during the up and coming winter season:

• Always check the use-by date because hot water bottles that are past their expiration date are more likely to split and leak.
• Use hot tap water in your hot water bottle instead of filling it up too much or using boiling water.
• To avoid the hot water bottle coming into contact with your skin, always use a cover or wrap it in a cloth or a towel.
• Before going to sleep, take your hot water bottle off the bed so you won't roll onto it and break it.

On Product Safety Australia's website, you can find additional details on how to prevent injuries from hot water bottles this winter.

Members, we hope that you will never need this information, but in the event that an accident does occur, here are some first-aid tips and information on how to treat burns caused by hot water.

Credit: ehowhealth.​

 

[Vertho]

I'm an old British granny now and I still use hot water bottles in the middle of winter. The one thing you should always do when filling a bottle with boiling water is, put a small amount of cold in first and then fill the bottle. DO NOT FILL THE BOTTLE TO CAPACITY because the hot water will make steam inside the bottle and that is why they burst. They overinflate. Put the bottles in the bed earlier and let them warm the sheets up for a while and then get in the bed. If you want to remove the bottle before getting into the bed, that is a singular choice. I always keep mine in the bed with me as I get up during the night to the bathroom. I use 3 bottles......one at my feet, one about tummy hight and the other I often hold on to. I have special knitted covers on them, and they are very cosy. I have done this since childhood and have never had an accident, unfortunately, Australia is a warm - hot country so people are not used to using hot water bottles as often as they do in Europe but if you take my advice, you shouldn't have any disasters.
Stay warm everyone and have a pleasant week.

 

[Monzy]

Yes we had hot water bottles when we were kids. Was always told not to fill right to the brim. And then expell any air. Never had an accident. We also used heated bricks at the bottom of the bed.

 

[Ricci]

I was taught as a kid to fill the bottle to about three quarters full then holding it against your chest slowly squeeze it till you can see the water in the neck, this pushes out all the excess air. Still holding it against you, you can now screw the cap on and you're good to go. always assuming you have a bottle cover securely on it first. My husband was taught to stand the bottle on it's edge on the draining board and slowly lower it to almost lying flat, before putting the cap on, same reason, different method. Even so, I have always changed my hot water bottles every two years just to be on the safe side, after all they are relatively cheap.

 

[Jennylolo]

I was taught as a kid to fill the bottle to about three quarters full then holding it against your chest slowly squeeze it till you can see the water in the neck, this pushes out all the excess air. Still holding it against you, you can now screw the cap on and you're good to go. always assuming you have a bottle cover securely on it first. My husband was taught to stand the bottle on it's edge on the draining board and slowly lower it to almost lying flat, before putting the cap on, same reason, different method. Even so, I have always changed my hot water bottles every two years just to be on the safe side, after all they are relatively cheap.

we did the same- rolling out the excess air, and when putting bottle flat it was flat- no bulges. If left in bed was only allowed to be at our feet. Before covers came we wrapped each in a towel.

 

[Ezzy]

WARNING: This article contains some distressing images.

After a tragic accident left her with "horrific" second-degree burns, a mum is cautioning against the potential risks of hot water bottles this winter season.

Erin Majurey shared her nightly winter ritual with 7NEWS, in which she and her daughter, age 11, would fill up their hot water bottles and climb into her bed for a nightly cuddle.

But two weeks ago, their sweet tradition tragically went awry when Erin's bottle suddenly burst, splattering scalding hot water all over her legs.

Erin disclosed that the accident with the hot water caused her to suffer burns all over her thighs, her left buttock, and her lower back. It was a good thing that her daughter was busy filling her own bottle at the time because otherwise she might have been injured as well.

In an interview, Erin recalled, "I just screamed immediately, it was the most excruciating pain." She added that her injuries started blistering right away, and she described the pain as being ‘horrifying’.

After that, she quickly stripped out of her pyjamas and ran into the bathroom to jump into the shower in an effort to stop the burns from blistering any further.

Experts say this type of accident is more common than people may think. Credit: Hot Water Bags.​

Immediately after the accident, an ambulance was called for Erin, and when the paramedics arrived, they informed her that she had suffered second degree burns.

When she arrived at the hospital, the doctors cleaned out the wounds and applied a variety of bandages, which the mum described as being an excruciatingly painful process.

"I've never felt pain like that in my life," she said.

Now, Erin has been released from the hospital and is making steady progress towards a full recovery. However, she is required to continue going to her doctor for checkups and to have her bandages changed every few days.

Furthermore, she hopes that by sharing her story, everyone will know and understand the risks associated with hot water bottles, especially during the colder months.

Because "they have an expiration," as she puts it, and because they may gradually lose their effectiveness over time, she recommends that people should replace their hot water bottles at least once every season.

Erin had burns all over her thighs, left buttock, and lower back from the hot water. Credit: 7News.​

According to Product Safety Australia, those who are using hot-water bottles should be aware of the following in order to reduce the risk of sustaining an injury during the up and coming winter season:

• Always check the use-by date because hot water bottles that are past their expiration date are more likely to split and leak.
• Use hot tap water in your hot water bottle instead of filling it up too much or using boiling water.
• To avoid the hot water bottle coming into contact with your skin, always use a cover or wrap it in a cloth or a towel.
• Before going to sleep, take your hot water bottle off the bed so you won't roll onto it and break it.

On Product Safety Australia's website, you can find additional details on how to prevent injuries from hot water bottles this winter.

Members, we hope that you will never need this information, but in the event that an accident does occur, here are some first-aid tips and information on how to treat burns caused by hot water.

Credit: ehowhealth.​

I remember my mother used a hot water bottle, wrapped it in a towel, used water boiled in a kettle & never replaced it unless perishing was evident around the top & never had one split. Was this just good luck on her part or an indication of the quality of materials 60+ years ago to the quality of today's products?

The advice offered here is certainly sound & sensible when we think these, like a wheat pack, should not not make direct contact with the skin due to burning & in the case of a hot water bottle, without a breakage.