A YOUNG woman claims her “skin fell off” after an old hot water bottle burst over her legs and vagina.
Yazmin Hardy says her legs were left “burning for a week” when her hot water bottle burst while lying on the sofa on Tuesday, July 16.
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The 27-year-old was on day one of her period and suffering “painful” menstrual cramps when she reached for her heat pad to help soothe the pain.
After filling the bottle up to the top with boiling kettle water, the recruitment consultant put it back in its cover and headed to the couch to lie down.
But minutes later, Yazmin, from Manchester, says the product split open pouring boiling liquid onto her legs, lower tummy and hands.
Immediately, she stripped and jumped into a cold shower for 30 minutes to relieve the “burning pain”.
“The pain was eased by the shower pretty quickly but it was a really sharp, boiling burning pain,” Yazmin said.
“The burns were mainly on my thigh and the top of my vagina and then on my other inner thigh.
“The pressure from the shower was causing the skin to just fall off my leg and when I got out of the shower I had no skin there and it was bright red and more skin came off.
“When I got out of the shower I had no skin there and it was bright red and more skin came off.
“For days on end, my leg kept burning. A week later it was still burning hot.”
Yazmin eventually went to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where she had her dead skin removed and her wounds wrapped.
She then returned to the hospital every day for a fortnight to have her legs rebandaged and says she may be left scarred for life.
Shocking photos show Yazmin’s skin red raw and blistered as she lay on a hospital bed awaiting treatment.
It has now been two months since she was burned and although her skin is healing well, she may have to live with the scars for life.
She said: “They [doctors] are unable to say whether it will scar or not because everyone is different but you can still definitely see marks. If I had a shower it still goes bright red.”
She is now speaking out about the incident to urge other hot water bottle users to check the expiry date inside theirs.
“At first I thought it was my fault because I hadn’t screwed the lid on properly but when I got home from the hospital, I had another look and there was a tiny split in the seam of the rubber bottle,” she explained.
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“My hot water bottle was out of date but at the time I didn’t know about the dates in them” she added.
“[Since my accident], I’ve found out loads of rules about hot water bottles.
“You’re not meant to fill it up all from the kettle. You’re meant to do half boiling hot water and the rest cold water.
“You’re also not meant to fill it up to the top because of the pressure and also check the dates on them. I will never use a hot water bottle again as it’s just scary.
“I think if you burn yourself the most important thing to do is jump in a cold shower straight away.
“If the ambulance comes and you haven’t done this, they will actually shove you in a cold shower before taking you to hospital to stop the burns getting worse.”
How to treat burns and scalds
Burns are damage to the skin usually caused by heat.
They can be very painful and may cause:
- Red or peeling skin
- Blisters
- Swelling
- White or charred skin
The amount of pain you feel is not always related to how serious the burn is.
Even a very serious burn may be relatively painless.
Treating burns and scalds
To treat a burn, follow the first aid advice below:
- Immediately get the person away from the heat source
- Remove any clothing or jewellery
- Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes
- Make sure the person keeps warm
- After cooling the burn, cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it
- Use painkillers
- Raise the affected area if possible
- If it’s an acid or chemical burn, dial 999
When to get medical attention
Depending on how serious a burn is, it may be possible to treat it at home.
For minor burns, keep the burn clean and do not burst any blisters that form.
More serious burns require professional medical attention.
You should go to a hospital A&E department for:
- All chemical and electrical burns
- Large or deep burns – any burn bigger than the injured person’s hand
- Burns that cause white or charred skin – any size
- Burns on the face, neck, hands, feet, any joints or genitals
If someone has breathed in smoke or fumes, they should also get medical attention.
