Dr Amir Khan says people should avoid common household item in new warning

Dr Amir Khan says people should avoid common household item in new warning The NHS GP is urging people to stop using the common item if they notice the number on it has expired As chilly weather sweeps across the UK, NHS GP and health expert Dr Amir Khan has issued a timely warning to the public. It comes as many people will be using a common household item to stay warm indoors, but not being careful enough could lead to serious injuries, making it crucial to know when to stop using it. Taking to Instagram today, Monday, November 2, Dr Amir Khan issued a warning about 'old' hot water bottles people may still have at home, highlighting the hidden safety risks associated with ageing ones and when to stop using one. He said: "As we enter November and the colder season and with energy costs through the roof - many of us will be reaching for our trusted hot water bottles to keep cosy warm. But do remember to check this before using yours." The doctor, who regularly appears on ITV's Lorraine and BBC News, highlighted a little-known but highly important detail embossed on most hot water bottles, which tells you when you must stop using it. He continued: "Guys, it's absolutely freezing in the UK right now. And if you and your hot water bottle are currently in a committed relationship, listen to this, because I'm going to show you something that not many people know about." Explaining exactly where to look, he said: "On the top of your hot water bottle is a tiny wheel. It tells you the month and year your bottle was made." Holding up his own to the camera, he said: "So in the middle of my wheel, it has the number 23. "That means it was made in 2023. And then the segments around that number are the months of the year, and they should have dots in them. Depending on how many are highlighted with dots will be the month. "So my first three segments are highlighted with dots. So January, February, March. So this was made in March." He stressed that because rubber degrades over time with repeated exposure to heat, hot water bottles must be replaced every two to three years to prevent severe injuries. "That's important because rubber degrades with heat and time and hot water bottles should be replaced every two or three years." he later added: "That's how long these things last for." He went on to say: "Mine really should be replaced now because old bottles are much more likely to crack. They can split or they can leak boiling water onto your skin. And I promise you. Bottle burns are not cosy. They are painful." Using old or degraded bottles significantly increases the risk of cracks, leaks, or catastrophic bursts, which can cause painful hot-water burns. To ensure safe usage, Dr Khan advised using hot rather than boiling water, filling the bottle to only two-thirds of its capacity, and carefully expelling excess air before tightening the stopper. "So if you are using a hot water bottle, just check that date and make sure it's up to date. Use hot, not boiling water," he said. "Fill it just kind of two thirds of the way full and gently squeeze out any air. Make sure that stopper is screwed on properly, and always do kind of a leak check before you use it." Dr Khan also warned against placing hot water bottles directly against bare skin. Prolonged direct contact can trigger erythema ab igne, which is a skin condition that causes a marbled or web-like rash due to chronic heat exposure. Users are strongly recommended to always wrap their bottle in a cover or towel before use. He said: "Never put the hot water bottle directly onto your skin always use a cover or a towel or something because if you put that directly onto your skin over time it can cause skin damage. There's a rash called 'erythema ab igne' that we see quite a lot. It looks like a web or a marbling over the surface of the skin and it's usually where you've had your hot water bottle over time."