Australians preparing for the cooler months have been warned some warming devices could be dangerous for children.
Electric blankets, heat packs and hot water bottles have been labelled by Tiny Hearts Education – a group that specialises in educating parents on first aid emergencies – as potentially hazardous with children more susceptible to burns.
The group, run by former paramedic Nikki Jurcutz, urged parents to make sure they avoid overheating wheat packs or overfilling water bottle.
It says to ensure skin is monitored closely to stop prevent trapping heat – which can also lead to fires.
“It‘s also not recommended to use wheat bags in beds because the bedding can trap the heat, causing the heat pack to catch fire, which can also occur if it’s overheated.” she said in a post.
“There is a risk for burns to sensitive skin when using heat packs, so they shouldn‘t be used on little ones.
Users were urged to check expiry dates on hot water bottles and avoid using boiling water in case the device leaks or tears.
The organisation said to “move the hot water bottle every 20 minutes to prevent gradual burns in one area” and “remove excess air before sealing”.
While some people say electric blankets should not be used for children, Tiny Hearts says the key to keeping children safe in bed is by turning the devices off before going to sleep.
Tiny Hearts also urged parents to ensure electric blankets were not damaged or rolled up underneath the covers.
The parenting group highlighted alternative solutions to keep kids toasty during the winter months, including onesies, sleeping bags and thick pyjamas.
Dozens of parents praised the group for their warning and offered up other alternatives, including merino socks and weighted blankets.
“After seeing my mums perfectly good electric blanket catch on fire I will never use one again. Just get a 3.5 tog and thick pyjamas – kids are tough,” one user wrote.
“We would use a wheat bag to prewarm the bed and then remove it when we put our son to bed. My husband knew a faxjmtzywmily whose house burnt down because a wheat bag caught fire,” warned a third.
According to product safety, around 200 Australians are admitted to hospital each year with serious burns from a hot water bottle.
