Heat pack and hot water bottle contact burns – A small but challenging injury to reduce to zero.

DALE EDWICK^1,2, Sharon Rowe¹, Dale Edgar^3,4,5,6, Fiona Wood^1,4,5,
¹Fiona Stanley Hospital, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Murdoch, WA, Australia
²Curtin University, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Bentley, WA, Australia
³Armadale Kalamunda Group Health Service, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Mt Nasura, WA, Australia
⁴Burn Injury Research Unit – University of Western Australia, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Nedlands, WA, Australia
⁵Fiona Wood Foundation, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Murdoch, WA, Australia
⁶Institute for Health Research – The University of Notre Dame Australia, Whadjuk Noongar Country, Fremantle, WA, Australia

Abstract

Introduction
The application of heat to manage pain and stiffness is well established. Anecdotally, superficial heat provides relief for acute and chronic pain, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea and labour pain. Heat packs and hot water bottles may be readily purchased and applied without medical referral, often resulting in these being used without appropriate medical direction.

Methods
A retrospective analysis of patients presenting to the State Adult Burns Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital from February 2015 – April 2023 who incurred a heat pack or hot water bottle contact burn.

Results & Discussion
There were 166 patients (104 female) who presented with contact burns from heat packs or hot water bottles. The mean age was 52.7±20.7 years (range 16-94). First aid was not applied or inadequate in 151 patients (91%). Mean TBSA was 0.34±0.5% (range 0.1-4%). Of the cohort, 27% were admitted and had a mean LOS of 3.96±4.5 days (range 1-20). Surgery was required in 40 patients (24%). Contributing factors included neurological impairments (43%), falling asleep (25%), the influence of alcohol (10%) and the application of heat to insensate surgical scars (14%). Mean outpatient visits were 11±10.5 occasions of service (range 1-60). Concerningly, 5 patients incurred burns while admitted to other hospitals.

Conclusion
This study identifies the opportunities to reduce the impact of burns related to the common practice of using heat for analgesia. Implementing targeted community education about the products and appropriate first aid application, in addition to improving warning labels, may help to reduce the incidence of these contact injuries.

Biography

Dale is a Senior Physiotherapist in the State Adult Burns Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital, and is a Lecturer (Teaching and Research Academic) in the School of Allied Health at Curtin University. He is passionate about promoting the role of allied health as part of the wound management team, and the implementation of measurement of and interventions to proactively manage burn wound oedema, with the aim of improving outcomes for the burn injured patient.