Eduard Penkala first introduced the concept of a hot water bottle in 1903. The central component of his invention was a water-filled, hollow rubber bag. The strange thing is that it was originally constructed of copper or brass, which led to a lot of burns and accidents. Then they switched to rubber. Conversely, Katie Piper said that it seems that rubber hot water bottles are just as risky, especially if they are old.
Warning from Katie Piper
Thanks to her ability to transform her tragedy into a successful business, Katie Piper has become well-known and has contributed to making the world a better place for burn sufferers. She had chemical burns over ten years ago at the hands of someone who was hired to do it by someone she had been close to before. She established a nonprofit to help other burn victims despite the anguish she had endured. Regarding the hot water bottle, the Katie Piper organization made a statement not long ago. There was a scary message on the foundation’s Instagram page about how important it is to remember when the hot water bottle is about to expire. To avoid serious burns and injuries, it is imperative that you do this.
Following a narrative being posted on the Katie Piper charity’s Instagram page, a warning was issued by the charity. I beg you, when the weather becomes cooler, to double-check the expiration dates on your bottles of hot water. My own exploded on me because I failed to monitor it, and I spent a month in the intensive care and burns unit at Chelmsford Hospital. The user was informed. It can take me two years to go back to normal, and I might always have scars on my thighs and stomach. I pray no one else goes through what I have. Please verify your dates.
How to Use Hot Water Bottles Correctly
In a statement issued after the article went live, the Katie Piper Foundation discussed the dangers of using a hot water bottle and offered some crucial safety advice. The most important thing to remember is to always use a cloth or towel to protect your skin from water and to avoid using a water bottle that is old or leaky. Both of these things may cause significant burns. Another thing: you should never boil water. Ultimately, such was never their original design intent. The next piece of advice is to never heat the bottle in the oven or microwave; instead, use water. Finally, unless instructed differently, keep the bottle filled no more than two thirds of the way. There are a few of versions that can be submerged entirely in water. Also, before you shut the hot water bottle, make sure all the air is out.
“It would be great if all hot water bottles sold in the UK had a ‘flower wheel’ on the funnel that indicated the date of production…” This was clarified in the piece. You can tell the year of manufacture by looking at the number in the middle of the wheel. The year 2018 might be shown, for instance, by the number 18.
Additionally, the wheel’s core is surrounded by 12 parts. You can usually tell the month it was built by looking at the amount of these segments with dots in them. In other words, June is the month that the bottle was created if there are dots in six parts.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Deterioration of rubber begins to occur after a few years from the date of manufacturing. The hot water bottle is more prone to leaking if it has beyond its expiration date. Resulting in the elevated danger of burns. It should be noted that the hot water bottle was only meant to be used with warm or hot water, not boiling water.
Hot water bottles had a purpose and still do, even if they aren’t perhaps the most secure method to remain warm. Originally fashioned from metals that inflicted terrible damage on many people, as already said. But before central heating, they worked wonders for warming a bed and providing calming relaxation for aching muscles. Therefore, in the early 1900s, Eduard Penkala came up with the rubber design—a much-appreciated way to be comfortable and relaxed—in response to this need.
Background about the Katie Piper Foundation
