🚨 Winter Warning: Dangerous Cold Remedy Alert! 🚨
Hey everyone, as the chilly season rolls in, a top surgeon is sounding the alarm about a wintertime practice that could leave you with serious injuries. Steam inhalation, often used as a home remedy for coughs and colds, can lead to severe burns. 😱🚫
Jeremy Yarrow, a consultant surgeon at the NHS Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, highlights that every year, hospitals see a shocking number of adults and children with burns from hot water bowls used in steam inhalation. These injuries can be life-changing, requiring long-term treatment or even surgery. It’s especially risky for kids due to their delicate skin. 🙅♂️🔥
Despite popular belief, the benefits of steam inhalation for colds aren’t proven, and might not be worth the risk. Instead, consider safer alternatives like over-the-counter medicines for those sniffles. 🛡️💊
What to do if accidents happen? Remember the ‘3Cs’:
1. **Cool** the burn with cold running water for 20 minutes.🚰
2. **Call** for medical help – ring 999, 111, or your GP. 📞🚑
3. **Cover** the burn with cling film or a sterile, non-fluffy dressing. 📦
Also, a quick heads-up on hot water bottles! Take note of the manufacturing date stamped on yours. If it’s more than two years old or you’ve been using freshly boiled water, it’s time for a replacement or a cooling-off period before you fill it. Stay safe, everyone! 🕰️⏳
Share this with your friends and family to keep them safe this winter! 👥💬 Stay warm and injury-free! ❄️❤️