Tom Earnshaw
A warning has been issued to check a little-known hot water bottle logo to avoid people being seriously hurt after a woman was 'burnt alive' when hers exploded on to her bare skin.
The cold winter months will see millions around the UK get out their hot water bottle for its annual task of keeping us toasty as the frost does its best to settle in.
And they are an absolute lifesaver in stopping the chill from getting ahold of us. But use one that is out of date - yes, they have an expiry - and you could end up with severe burns, which is exactly what happened to Annie Thomas.
28-year-old Annie was left with horrific injuries and a feeling of being 'burnt alive' when her hot water bottle exploded. It burst scalding water all over her legs and stomach.
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The incident, which happened in October, saw the Nottingham woman get rushed to Queen's Medical Centre the day after the incident after her burns started to blister the next day, with worries about infection.
Recalling the incident, Annie said: "I had a delayed reaction for sure but it took me a few seconds to realised what happened and then my whole body erupted in immense pain.
"The burns were on my lower stomach area, the majority of my right thigh and inner thigh."
She said: "Essentially it was like being burnt alive. I just screamed and ran straight into the shower and rinsed myself down for about 15 minutes in cold water. I was panicking."
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Annie said the only relief she had was when the burns were 'under the cold water' with 'intense pain rushing back' when she took it away.
"I kept getting in and out of the shower for the first hour but I couldn't stand in the shower all night, so I ran a cold bath. I was just submerged in the cold bath until about 1am," she said.
"I kept trying to get out but the pain was so intense. It just looked like a sunburn at this point as it hadn't blistered yet. It was really pink."
Annie is now working to raise awareness of the dangers of hot water bottles and the little-known fact that they have a safety expiry date.
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"The thing I have been speaking about with so many people in person is the expiry date. People need to check this on their own hot water bottles and when they purchase one," she said. "I don't think everybody knows about this and this is what was quite shocking to me."
According to the NHS, the typical lifespan of a hot water bottle is two years. On top of this, it's important to look out for the printed daisy wheel - also known as a flower wheel - which reveals the expiry date.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) in the north west of England issued an explainer on how to read these wheels.
Hot water bottles are a longstanding, low-cost way to stay warm, but they typically have a lifespan of about two years," LFRS says. "Do you know how to check when yours will expire?
"Here's a quick and easy way to find out: Look for the 'Flower Wheel' or 'Daisy Wheel' on the funnel or neck of your hot water bottle. This will show you the manufacturing date."
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The number in the centre of the wheel indicates the year it was made. For example, ‘20’ means 2020.
Next, the 12 petals around the wheel represent the months of the year.
Finally, the dots in each petal represent the weeks of that month.
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"For example, three dots in the fifth petal means it was made in the third week of May," LFRS says.
If your hot water bottle is more than two years old from the manufacturing date, it is at risk of leaking or bursting. For your safety, it's time to replace it.