Hot Baths & Water Bottles Should Be Employed With Care

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 1, 20 June 1949, Page 6

Hot Baths & Water Bottles Should Be Employed With Care

It is common knowledge that heat may soothe tired muscles, aching bones or localised pain. But heat may be dangerous, especially for those who are very oil,, very old, very young, unconscious, or paralysed. Hot Baths may ease aching bones and muscles, or irritated nerves. Their effect is increased by adding bath salts or a little washing soda, but too hot, or prolonged, baths are exhausting, and chilling readily follows. Hot Bottles, are commonly used for localised pain, or for general warmth. They, have, however, been known to cause bad burns. So in preparing the hot bottle these suggestions will be of value: 1. Test for punctured fabric, or leaky stopper. 2. Add a teacup of cold water, before filling with boiling water. 3. Fill only two-thirds full, and expel air and steam. The bag should then be soft and flexible. 4. Dry carefully, test again for leaks, cover adequately and see cover stays on. 5. Insert so that patients weight is not resting on bottle. Useful substitutes are bot bricks, bags of salt, sand or bran that have been heated in the oven and then covered..