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| Brynamman: Woman burned by exploding hot water bottle | Brynamman: Woman burned by exploding hot water bottle |
| (4 months later) | |
| Helen Cowell was using a hot water bottle to ease back pain when it burst | Helen Cowell was using a hot water bottle to ease back pain when it burst |
| A woman whose hot water bottle exploded on her has been left so traumatised she's too scared to pour a kettle. | A woman whose hot water bottle exploded on her has been left so traumatised she's too scared to pour a kettle. |
| Helen Powell was trying to ease her back pain when it burst, scalding her bottom and legs. | Helen Powell was trying to ease her back pain when it burst, scalding her bottom and legs. |
| The accident happened last April when the 45-year-old put the hot water bottle on her leg and the rubber perished. | The accident happened last April when the 45-year-old put the hot water bottle on her leg and the rubber perished. |
| As boiling water covered her she was left screaming in agony. | As boiling water covered her she was left screaming in agony. |
| Ms Powell said: "The skin was off the back of my legs and my bottom. It was horrendous. I will never forget it for the rest of my life." | Ms Powell said: "The skin was off the back of my legs and my bottom. It was horrendous. I will never forget it for the rest of my life." |
| The 45-year-old, from Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, made the mistake of putting boiling water in the device. | The 45-year-old, from Brynamman, Carmarthenshire, made the mistake of putting boiling water in the device. |
| She said: "People will tell you that unless you boil the water you can't feel the heat - no matter how many times the doctors tell you that you shouldn't be." | She said: "People will tell you that unless you boil the water you can't feel the heat - no matter how many times the doctors tell you that you shouldn't be." |
| Train tracks fall woman looks for her lifesaver | Train tracks fall woman looks for her lifesaver |
| Wales' children get F in fitness in global study | Wales' children get F in fitness in global study |
| NHS Wales in dangerous and precarious state - BMA Cymru | NHS Wales in dangerous and precarious state - BMA Cymru |
| Ms Powell was rushed to Morriston Hospital by her daughter. | Ms Powell was rushed to Morriston Hospital by her daughter. |
| She was in the back of the vehicle "face down, screaming all the way". | She was in the back of the vehicle "face down, screaming all the way". |
| Ms Powell said: "I just remember being in a room in the intensive care unit and don't remember much else, just the pain. | Ms Powell said: "I just remember being in a room in the intensive care unit and don't remember much else, just the pain. |
| "It's not just a little burn, it's horrendous. I couldn't walk properly for a while, because of the nerve damage in my legs, and had to use a Zimmer frame." | "It's not just a little burn, it's horrendous. I couldn't walk properly for a while, because of the nerve damage in my legs, and had to use a Zimmer frame." |
| The accident happened when the 45-year-old put the hot water bottle on her leg | The accident happened when the 45-year-old put the hot water bottle on her leg |
| The accident resulted in severe scarring. | The accident resulted in severe scarring. |
| "All inside my legs, my buttocks and the back of my calves," Ms Powell said. | "All inside my legs, my buttocks and the back of my calves," Ms Powell said. |
| "And it may never go away. If I wear shorts it's very visible. Horrible, crumpled, crusty and dry. That upsets me too, but it could have been my face." | "And it may never go away. If I wear shorts it's very visible. Horrible, crumpled, crusty and dry. That upsets me too, but it could have been my face." |
| Ms Powell said she has been left traumatised by what happened. I can't have a bath, I'm too scared. I have to have a lukewarm shower. If I'm boiling potatoes or veg I can't drain them. My daughter has to do all that. I won't pour a kettle. | Ms Powell said she has been left traumatised by what happened. I can't have a bath, I'm too scared. I have to have a lukewarm shower. If I'm boiling potatoes or veg I can't drain them. My daughter has to do all that. I won't pour a kettle. |
| 'I'd rather put a dressing gown on and a blanket' | 'I'd rather put a dressing gown on and a blanket' |
| "People don't think about these things. The fear of a boiling kettle - I couldn't drink coffee or a cup of tea for nearly three months because of the fear. That's how it has affected me." | "People don't think about these things. The fear of a boiling kettle - I couldn't drink coffee or a cup of tea for nearly three months because of the fear. That's how it has affected me." |
| Ms Powell has pledged never to use a hot water bottle again and is urging others to take care. | Ms Powell has pledged never to use a hot water bottle again and is urging others to take care. |
| She said: "I understand why they are using them because it's expensive to put the heating on right now. But I'd rather put a dressing gown on and a blanket." | She said: "I understand why they are using them because it's expensive to put the heating on right now. But I'd rather put a dressing gown on and a blanket." |
| Morriston Hospital's burns and plastic surgery centre is bracing for an increase in hot water bottle accidents as people look for alternatives to putting the heating on. | Morriston Hospital's burns and plastic surgery centre is bracing for an increase in hot water bottle accidents as people look for alternatives to putting the heating on. |
| Nurse John Davies said the burns centre saw 20-30 patients with hot water bottle scalds every year | Nurse John Davies said the burns centre saw 20-30 patients with hot water bottle scalds every year |
| An occupational therapist at the centre, Janine Evans: "People are filling them with boiling water, which they shouldn't be doing. | An occupational therapist at the centre, Janine Evans: "People are filling them with boiling water, which they shouldn't be doing. |
| "We get patients who sustain a boiling water scald to their hand, as when filling it they miss the bottle and pour the hot water over their hand." | "We get patients who sustain a boiling water scald to their hand, as when filling it they miss the bottle and pour the hot water over their hand." |
| People were also not checking whether rubber was perished. | People were also not checking whether rubber was perished. |
| Ms Evans said: "Then the hot water either leaks out slowly, or in some cases it explodes." | Ms Evans said: "Then the hot water either leaks out slowly, or in some cases it explodes." |
| Staff nurse John Davies said the burns centre saw 20-30 patients with scalds from hot water bottles every year. | Staff nurse John Davies said the burns centre saw 20-30 patients with scalds from hot water bottles every year. |
| He said: "Even superficial burns, such as scalds, are very, very painful because the nerve endings are still exposed." | He said: "Even superficial burns, such as scalds, are very, very painful because the nerve endings are still exposed." |
| He expected the cost-of-living crisis would spur people on to using hot water bottles. | He expected the cost-of-living crisis would spur people on to using hot water bottles. |
| "They are safe to use if you look after them and learn how to fill and store them correctly," Mr Davies said. | "They are safe to use if you look after them and learn how to fill and store them correctly," Mr Davies said. |
| Related Topics | |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | |
| Brynamman |