FAMILIES have been warned not to give hot water bottles to kids as winter nears after a rise in burns.

The bed warmers caused 99 serious injuries from January to June this year, up from 68 in 2022.

A rise in use is expected as an alternative to costly central heating.

Ken Dunn, vice chair of the Children’s Burns Trust said: “The significant increase we have seen of injuries from hot water bottles to children is alarming.

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“As the colder months of the year approach – coupled with the ongoing cost of living – we’re urging families to avoid using hot water bottles for children.

“If you do use them at all in the home, you should remember two key pieces of information about how to use them safely.

“Never fill them with boiling water and always check the rubber flower symbol found on the neck which shows which month and year the hot water bottle was made.

“Any bottle older than two years old should be replaced.

“By raising awareness of the risk posed by hot water bottles and educating people on the safest way to use them – as well as the correct first aid should an injury occur – we can help to reduce the number and resultant scarring of these devastating injuries.”