'Potentially lethal' hot water bottles seized by Trading Standards officers
More than 1,200 electric hot water bottles seized by Kent County Council Trading Standards officers have been described as potentially lethal.
The bottles – intended for use by children – were recovered from a lorry arriving through the Port of Dover.
Mains electricity is passed through the water in the bottle to heat it up, which is against the relevant safety standard. Any leaking water would be “live” and could lead to electrocution.
An electrical safety expert examined the hot water bottles and found numerous faults. The faults included insufficient insulation to protect the user from electric shock, the cable was inadequate for the load and the construction of the cable was not safe because wrong connecting devices had been used.