A woman has shared her agony after an “expired” hot water bottle exploded, leaving her with severe burns. Jade McKenna let out a “piercing scream” as the boiling water hit her arm, causing blisters to form on her skin.
The 30-year-old from Coventry rushed to hospital and was referred to a specialist burn unit for treatment. The bride-to-be was left in tears, not only due to the pain but also worrying about whether she would fully recover before she married her fiance, Chris.
“I howled out in pain with a piercing scream as the boiling water prickled my skin,” Jade told NeedToKnow. “I ran my arm under the cold water tap but I noticed blisters forming and saw the raw skin underneath.”
She added: “I was in complete agony.” At the hospital, Jade was informed if she hadn’t immediately put her arm under the tap, she could have suffered third-degree burns, which would have resulted in scarring.
She was also told that there’s a mistake which many people make – and not many people know about it. “They also told me that hot water bottles have an expiration date; with mine being five months overdue”, she revealed.
It’s recommended that hot water bottles are replaced every two years, with the year of manufacture printed around the edges. This oversight left Jade feeling “stupid” and mentally “scarred for life”.
After the incident, she had the dead skin removed. During her recovery and suffering severe burns, Jade was unable to perform basic tasks and had to be signed off work for five weeks.
She recounted her ordeal: “I was unable to type, drive, or even shower, as it was too difficult. I was told to do physio and regular exercises to prevent my arm from healing in a static position.”
In the following months, Jade’s arm became hypersensitive to cold and warm temperatures, causing her discomfort. To ensure full recovery by her wedding, she applied cream up to five times daily.
Fortunately, her perseverance paid off and she was able to enjoy her special day pain-free whilst looking stunning with her and her husband tying the knot in October of last year. She shared her joy: “I was able to wear a shorter sleeve dress, which felt amazing.”
Jade no longer experiences extreme sensitivity to temperature changes, but she still notices the effects of her burns during showers. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “I consider myself lucky.”
However, she has sworn off hot water bottles revealing: “But I haven’t touched a hot water bottle since and I never will – no matter how cold it is.”
For safety, she now uses an electric blanket and wants to raise awareness about the potential dangers of hot water bottles: “I wish I’d known hot water bottles had an expiry date on them – that’s why I’m sharing my story to warn others.”
Jade’s accident occurred in December 2023, with her treatment extending over several months. Her wedding took place in October 2024 and she has since made a full recovery.