Winter essentials that could land you in hospital
Winter essentials that could land you in hospital
Top winter First Aid risks you didn’t know about
Spoiler: Winter injuries aren’t all about snow or ice – they’re coming from inside the house.
When people think of harmful things to watch out for in winter they often think of the flu or catching a cold – after all, it's called the 'common cold' for a reason. What they don't suspect are their cosy cold-weather comforts, which are responsible for hundreds of preventable injuries in NSW every winter.
Here are four surprising risks to watch out for, plus the First Aid know-how you need to stay warm, stay sharp, and keep your cool when it counts.
1. Hot Beverages
Spilling the Tea Shouldn’t Send You to ED
1. Hot beverages
Spilling the Tea Shouldn’t Send You to ED
That comforting cuppa might seem harmless, but a knocked-over mug, a lap tray accident, or a curious grab from a toddler could mean a trip to the Emergency Department.
In winter, hot drinks are one of the most common causes of burns in young children. In 2024, more than 400 kids in NSW were treated for scalds from hot liquids like tea, soup and coffee.
Most of these injuries happen in the home, with risk increasing when people carry hot drinks near children or use unstable surfaces like beds, couches or carpets. At just 60°C, a hot drink can cause serious skin damage in under a second, and many household kettles boil far hotter than that.
It’s crucial to remember hot food and drinks, which may feel safe for an adult, can cause serious burns to a child [...] even a small amount of hot liquid can result in deep, severe burns.
According to NSW Health, in 2024 there were:
- Over 400 children were treated for scalds from hot drinks, soups, and similar items during winter.
- 48 children suffered contact burns from stove tops, cooktops, or BBQs during the same timeframe.
2. Heaters and Radiators
2. Heaters and Radiators
Did you know? Portable and fixed heaters can reach surface temperatures of 75–100°C. That's hot enough to cause deep burns in seconds.
Radiator and panel heater burns, for example, can be especially dangerous. They may go unnoticed at first, as they don’t always hurt straight away, but can still cause serious deep tissue damage.
Burns often happen when people fall asleep too close, sit against a heater, or accidentally lean in while drying clothes.
Toddlers, young children and older adults are the most at risk due to thin skin, lower mobility and slower reaction times.
First Aid Tip
First Aid Tip
Keep furniture and bedding clear of heaters, and supervise children around any exposed heat source.
If someone is burned, follow standard burn first aid.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), over 2,500 Australians are hospitalised each year due to burns caused by hot fluids and household appliances like heaters and radiators.
Winter months see a clear spike in these thermal injuries. In NSW alone, winter brings a 12% rise in residential fires, many linked to indoor heating sources.
3. Hot Water Bottles
Staying warm shouldn't get too hot to handle
3. Hot Water Bottles
A go-to cheap winter-warmer steeped in nostalgia; featured in many childhood memories of sleepovers at their grandparents house, and starring as Alfred in the TV show "Johnson and Friends," a favourite for Australian kids of the 90s – the hot water bottle.
While they feel like a safe winter ritual, hot water bottles can explode, leak, or cause burns if left in contact with the skin too long. Most people also don't realise the rubber degrades over time, even if the bottle looks fine.
In recent years, the Alfred Burn Service has treated around 50 hot water bottle burn cases annually, most during winter. Some cases involved bottles that burst, despite being just months old.
First Aid Tip
Always use a cover on your hot water bottle to avoid direct skin contact.
The ACCC estimates about 200 Australians are hospitalised each year due to hot water bottle injuries, with many that require skin grafts.
Hot water bottles remain popular because they’re affordable and don’t rely on a constant supply of electricity. But old, overfilled, or misused bottles can quickly turn dangerous.
What can you do to feel safe using your hot water bottle?
What can you do to feel safe using your hot water bottle?
1. Follow the ACCC's Hot Water Bottle Product Safety Guide.
2. Read our First Aid Guide on Burns and Scalds, or download the Fact Sheet.
3. Do your First Aid training and make sure your certification is up to date.
4. Electric Blankets
4. Electric Blankets
Electric blankets are a winter staple but bring two hidden dangers: slow-developing burns and fire hazards due to wear or faulty wiring.
Many burn injuries are subtle at first. Older adults or those with reduced sensation may not notice overheating, leading to low-grade burns that then worsen overnight. Faulty blankets have also led to house fires.
The best approach to First Aid is preparation and prevention – taking the steps to reduce risk before injuries happen and being equipped with the skills and training to act if one does.
To help reduce the risk of injury from electric blankets, NSW Fire & Rescue and consumer product safety bodies like the ACCC recommend:
- Annual safety checks
- Replace every 5 years
- Don’t sleep with blankets switched on, unless they have an automatic shut-off
- Avoid use by vulnerable groups like infants or immobile adults.
While taking all the necessary precautions and safety measures will reduce the risk of injury, it never completely removes it. That's when being equipped with First Aid training and skills is essential.
First Aid Tip
Need to cover a burn? If you've run out of sterile gauze in your First Aid kit, you can use plastic cling wrap from your kitchen drawer.
If youself or someone else is burned by an electric blanket, run the area under cool water for 20 minutes and loosely cover it with light nonstick dressing that is clean, dry, and a non-fluffy material.
For example, this could be sterile gauze or cotton triangular bandage from your First Aid kit, or plastic cling wrap from your kitchen drawer. Avoid using adhesive bandages or anything that might stick to the burn.
If you're not sure how severe the burn is or if it's deep, large (bigger than a 20c coin), or affects the face, hands, feet or gentials, seek medical attention straight away.
Don't get caught out – learn how to treat burns and scalds and much more in one of our First Aid courses. Explore our couses and enrol today.