A woman has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of using outdated hot water bottles, urging people to throw theirs away after her hot water bottle exploded. Jessica Shanks said she was left in excruciating pain when the bottle at first leaked and then burst.
The 25-year-old said she knew it was two years past its use-by date but used it not thinking anything would happen. Instead she was left with severe burns when it scalded her legs and groin.
Jessica told how she was trying to alleviate stomach cramps by placing the bottle between her stomach and pyjama waistband while in bed at her Corfe Mullen home in Dorset on October 12 when the accident happened. Her partner Finley had to rush her under cold water as she passed out from the agony, leading to her mother rushing her to the local hospital.
With second-degree burns, Jessica was quickly transferred to Salisbury hospital's burn unit where she stayed for almost three weeks as a result of her injuries. Jessica, who works at a school for children with additional needs, said: "I usually use a hot water bottle to treat my stomach cramps so I placed it in between my stomach and waistband of my pyjamas.
"I had checked the date on it and it was two years out of date." She added: "I know it's so naive but I just didn't think anything would happen.
"It started to trickle down my thighs from bottom of the water bottle and as I moved in shock, it then burst. I jumped up from bed who I was in with my partner Finley."
Thankfully Finley's quick thinking helped her by placing her in the bath and showering her with cold water for 15 minutes. Despite this, Jessica fainted from the pain and shock with her mum urgently rushing her to Poole Hospital where she was given urgent treatment including a further 20-minute cold shower.
She was given paracetamol and morphine to help the pain, while doctors also aimed to prevent infection. Jessica recounted the ordeal saying: "They had to pop all the blisters which were on my stomach, both my inner thighs and groin.
"This was the Saturday and they said they'd make an appointment at Salisbury Burn Unit on Monday." However this was quickly changed when the seriousness of her burns was assessed.
She said: "The nurse who was dealing with me said they were going to admit me to Salisbury given where the injuries were. I remember having a shower with one of the nurses and my mum as I couldn't stand and I had to have gas and air every time they changed the dressings as I was in agony. I used gas and air in the shower and one of the gauze was stuck in the wound and we had to try and peel it off."
Jessica underwent skin graft surgery on October 19 - a two-hour procedure where skin from her outer thigh was used. Following the surgery she said she felt much better.
She said: "When I woke up in recovery after the surgery I was so much more positive as the surgery had halved the pain. It was easier to sleep in bed, it was manageable to get up and take a few steps. But I had to be catheterised for a week and a half as I couldn't sit on the toilet without getting the bandages wet or risk infection."
Jessica said she was lucky since she retained sensation in her legs but admitted that the entire episode has been 'difficult'. She said: "I was pretty much bedbound for the whole time. I had physiotherapy every day to get me up and into the chair next to my bed. I was going a bit stir crazy from being in bed."
Jessica's wounds are healing well and since being discharged last week, she has been able to walk around her village for 15 minutes at a time. She is now fundraising for the Salisbury burns unit which she said gave her 'phenomenal' care.
Jessica added: "Everyone has been so amazing and I'm so grateful as it was traumatising. It was the most painful thing I've ever had. It is useful hot water bottles have the expiry on them. This one came from within the family and I never thought something like this would happen. I want to be able to say thank you and show appreciate for the amazing work they do."