On a chilly evening, a simple bedtime routine turned into a nightmare for a 16-year-old girl from Wangaratta, Victoria. What started as a cosy night quickly spiralled into a harrowing experience that left her in excruciating pain and facing injuries she never saw coming.
Her experience serves as a warning about a hidden danger lurking in a common household item.
Shanae Fox was preparing for a restful night’s sleep, seeking comfort from a hot water bottle to ease her abdominal pain, a remedy many of us have turned to during colder nights or times of discomfort.
However, the tranquility was shattered when the hot water bottle, reportedly purchased from Kmart for just $10, burst at the seams, unleashing scalding water over Shanae’s midsection and inflicting third-degree burns.
‘She had it on her belly for maybe 10 minutes… It just split at the seams,’ Shanae’s father, Paul Fox, recounted the terrifying moment to Yahoo News Australia.
The incident, which occurred on a Friday night, quickly escalated from a minor inconvenience to a medical emergency. Paul described how his daughter emerged from her bedroom in shock, her skin bearing the brutal marks of the hot water’s wrath.
Despite immediate first aid efforts, including a shower to cool the burns, it became evident that Shanae required urgent professional care. She was rushed to the hospital and later airlifted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne for specialised treatment, including skin grafts.
The severity of the burns was such that Shanae was confined to her hospital bed, unable to walk, with blisters ‘the size of an egg.’ The distressing sight of his daughter’s injuries and the subsequent medical procedures have left Paul in a state of disbelief and concern.
The Anko-branded hot water bottle, Kmart’s in-house brand, had reportedly been purchased about a year prior, and its description reportedly matched those still on sale at the retail giant.
As Shanae continues to receive treatment, with doctors cautiously optimistic about her recovery, Paul has found himself in a difficult position. Staying in a hotel to be close to his daughter, he faces mounting accommodation costs and their family has turned to the community for support through a GoFundMe campaign.
According to Yahoo, Kmart, when contacted, was initially unaware of the incident but has since reached out to the Fox family. Parent company Wesfarmers has also been notified and is expected to make contact.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has previously highlighted the risks associated with hot water bottles, noting that around 200 Australians are hospitalised each year due to serious burns from these products.
The ACCC advises against using boiling water and recommends regular checks for signs of wear or damage that could lead to bursting or leaking.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking in everyday items and the importance of adhering to safety guidelines.
At YourLifeChoices, we urge our readers to exercise caution when using hot water bottles and to inspect them regularly for any signs of deterioration. If you or someone you know has experienced a similar incident, we encourage you to share your story and help raise awareness of product safety.
We extend our heartfelt wishes for Shanae’s swift and full recovery and remind our community to stay vigilant about the products we bring into our homes.
Have you ever encountered a dangerous situation with a seemingly safe household item? Share your experiences with the YourLifeChoices community in the comments below and let’s work together to keep each other informed and safe.
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