Overview
- Consultant surgeon Jeremy Yarrow reported recurring winter cases of adults and children burned by bowls of boiling water used for steam inhalation.
- Injuries frequently affect the thighs, lower abdomen and genital areas, with some patients requiring hospital admission, surgery and skin grafts.
- A Cochrane review found no clear clinical benefit for steam inhalation in treating colds or chest infections, undermining its widespread use.
- People who suffer a burn are urged to follow the '3Cs': cool with running tap water for 20 minutes, call for help, and cover loosely with clingfilm or a sterile dressing.
- Occupational therapist Janine Evans advised replacing hot water bottles every two years and avoiding freshly boiled water, with the warnings issued during an unusually early H3N2 flu surge that has pushed flu hospital beds to record highs for this time of year.