A woman faced a horrifying ordeal when a hot water bottle caused a massive blister on her leg that burst during the night, leaving her unable to walk. Sharon Portingale, a 50-year-old from Aberdare, would routinely take a hot water bottle filled with boiling water to bed. One morning in December 2022, she woke up drenched in water, but due to nerve damage in her right leg, she did not immediately realise what had occurred. A significant blister had formed overnight from the heat of the hot water bottle and had burst by the time she awoke.
Sharon attempted to clean the wound herself, but it soon became infected, leading her to seek treatment at the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Morriston Hospital. The infection spread to her ankle and knee, leaving her unable to walk and forcing her to miss work. Janine Evans, an advanced practitioner occupational therapist at the centre, noted a rise in hot water bottle burns in recent years, attributing it to economic factors such as the cost-of-living crisis.
Sharon shared her cautionary tale, emphasising the importance of letting boiled water cool before filling a hot water bottle and ensuring its condition is good. It took two years for Sharon’s injury to fully heal, leaving her with a scar on her leg. She stressed the seriousness of the incident and the unexpected consequences it brought, urging others to take precautions when using hot water bottles.
The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with hot water bottles and the importance of proper usage and safety measures. Janine advised applying cool water to a burn immediately and seeking medical attention promptly in case of an injury. Sharon’s experience highlights the need for vigilance and care when using hot water bottles to prevent accidents and injuries.