Warning by the British Burn Association about Steam Inhalation and Scalds over the Winter period

Each winter, Burns Units see an increase in serious injuries to both children and adults related to the practice of ‘steam inhalation’.

This practice tends to involve carrying bowls of scalding hot water which often spill and cause injury and hospital admissions.

Professor Shokrollahi from the British Burn Association stated: ‘Not only have we seen spikes of these injuries in the winter months, we also saw a rise during the peaks of the Coronavirus pandemic. From a detailed look at the literature, there is no evidence that steam inhalation is effective whilst at the same time presenting substantial risk of harm, hospital admission, requirement for skin grafts and resultant scars.

Our advice is – if you have symptoms or cold, flu or coronavirus, take over-the-counter remedy’s or those prescribed by your doctor but please avoid large containers of scalding hot water to prevent harm to you or your loved ones’.