1.Introduction

2.The Desirable Quality of Hot Water Bottles

3.Risks of Improper Use

4.Making Hot Water Bottle and Its Safe Usage

5.Conclusion

Introduction

Hot water bottles, are among the most recognizable items of with many people using them and familiar with them for over six decades, for purposes of warming them up at night, for massaging painful muscles or during menstration. In general these simple and affordable devices are deemed safe and effective but misuse may in fact result in injuries including burns and skin inflammation. In this blog you will get to know about the dowsers of hot water bottles, how to take precautions when you need to use it and why hot water bottles should not be avoided when properly used.

The Desirable Quality of Hot Water Bottles

Inexpensive and tried and tested, hot water bottles are one of the simplest ways to feel better when you are ill. Hot water bottles are prevalent for relieving symptoms of many diseases such as arthritis, muscle spasms, backache, and tension headache. They are also employed to warm beds during the winter season. The beauty of hot water bottles is that they are straight forward; easy to purchase and they can be used for a variety of ailments. Regardless of whether it is to sooth a strained lower back after a day of work intensively on your computer or desk, or to warm you up anytime, a hot water bottle is of immense importance. But like any hot item, there are risks involved whenever the product is mishandled.

Risks of Improper Use

Although hot water bottles are often used to help a lot of people when used correctly they may be highly dangerous when used in the wrong way. The two major concerning hot water bottles include burning and hot water bottle rash. These injuries mainly result from the exposure of the skin to extreme heat or from their protracted use.

1.Cold Injuries: Low Degree Burns or Frostbite Like Injuries

The main risk associated with improper usage of the hot water bottle is so-called low temperature burn or frostbite like injury. This can happen when skin comes into contact with heat for a long time and doesn’t necessarily have to be hot to the touch or a common burn. However, the heat can lead to skin wall burning or irritation and redness as well as even formation of blisters on the skin which is similar to what is contained in cases of frostbite.

These are burns which occur when one confines the hot water bottle against the skin for such long time that the benefit of the heat is over reduced by the heat of the hot water bottle or when the water in the bottle is boiled to dangerous high temperatures. It is not uncomfortable when one is outside the skin for a few hours, but the constant exposure to the warmth ruins the skin especially prone areas such as the face, neck or stomach.

2.Symptoms of Hot Water Bottle Rash (hot water bottle skin redness)

The prevention of a hot water bottle rash, also known as hot water bottle redness or contact dermatitis is also of concern. This hot water bottle rash tends to appear as redness or inflammation in the area that the hot water bottle was placed on the skin. It can cause simple itching to worse, such as rashing, swelling or even redness or vesicles. This rash is generally provoked by heat, either due to heat exposure or in conditions where the temperature is too high, perhaps in hot rooms, hot climates or hot baths and inSPA’s.

The issue mostly comes up when the hot water bottle is not covered with a cloth or a protective cover to protect skin from the heat of the rubber or plastic. Rash can be caused by heat from the bottle and the pressure exerted by the bottle on the skin; it is an uncomfortable rash and may sometimes be serious thus may need professional attention.

Making Hot Water Bottle and Its Safe Usage

However, to take advantage of hot water bottle and avoid burns or other skin reactions you need to adhere to some strict rules.

Use a Proper Cover or Cloth

Continuously make sure your hot water bottle is wrapped in a cloth or a specially made cover for the hot water bottle. It also saves you the agony of directly touching the rubber or the plastic material of the bottle since this cover tremendously emits heat when used for a long time. Wrapping a very thin towel or fabric, for instance, over the heat source also has the added advantage of lessen the heat which the stove gives off to create more comfort when in use.

Check the Temperature

It is good practice always to feel the temperature of the water in a hot water bottle before placing it on the skin. If water is too hot, it will definitely burn the skin and on the other extreme if the water is warm or at room temperature, it will not give the wanted therapeutic benefits. If you are unsure about the temperature, the best bet is to pour water that isn’t steaming hot, but is quite hot. It is recommended that the temperature should not be extremely hot when touched with finger, it should be comfortably hot, about 104-113°F(40-45℃). It is important that you should never pour boiling water directly to the hot water bottle, every time you do this you will be prone to burns.

Limit Exposure Time

Do not leave the hot water bottle touching your skin for very long. It is recommended that you do not have the hot water bottle for more than half an hour or 30 minutes at long. That’s particularly advisable in the event that you are using it to ease muscle aches or muscle contractions. In the case of baked skin it was noticed that people spending long hours at a moderate temperature had increased risk of developing low-temperature burn injuries or developing skin rashes. If you require longer respite the best option is to take micro breaks and reposition the bottle after warming up.

Use Hot Water Bottle Properly

Make sure that hot water bottle is sealed well and does not throw anything around. As with any liquid if it drops the possibility of either burning the skin by hot water or creating wetness which is a common conductor will increase skin sensitivity to other harsh detergents. Also, when using the hot water bottle, it is also important always to assess the state of the hot water bottle. Hot water bottles may with time be old, develop some cracks or be in bad state at all that may lead to cases where hot water is spilled.

Alternate with Cold Therapy

If you are to use hot water bottle as a pain reliever this is where you may have to use cold treatment. For example, utilising the hot water bottle in the 20-30 minutes and then using a cold pack on the area. Such can help bring better relief with regard to inflammation and can really be of help in conditions such as muscle pulls as well as inflammation.

Conclusion

All in all, hot water bottles are not dangerous at all but nevertheless they are dangerous if used uninhibited. Other times, these can be a very effective and safe to use especially when experiencing severe pains and rigor during winter. These injuries include burns, rashes and others; precaution that should be observed include using a cover when using hot water bottle, proper monitoring of the temperature until it cools down and proper time to spend with it. If you follow the above listed recommendations, you will be able to use a hot water bottle and gain all the possible positive effects without harming your skin or body.