Medical experts warn the use of instant hotpot
Local doctors are warning people about the dangers of instant hotpot, which uses chemicals to create heat without the use of a flame.
“We just received a patient who was injured on the right eye after chemicals spilt and hot soup spread into the eye while heating the hotpot,” said Dr Lian Jingcai, president of Shanghai Xinshijie Eye Hospital today. “The patient’s cornea on the right eye was burnt. Fortunately, no chemicals got into the eye.”
Such instant hotpots have gained popular recently, with heating materials, which functions like a heating pad, inside the pot. After adding cold water, the chemicals inside rise to 90 degrees Celsius within just 20 seconds, generating a gush of air.
Improper use can lead to a small explosion, which firefighters said can be avoided if users of the hot pot remember not to cover the air outlet.
Quick lime, which is one of the chemicals used to generate heat, is very dangerous, although widely available, Dr Lian Jingcai added.
“We received an 8-year-old boy suffering serious injuries on his right eye after chemicals spilt into the eye when he mixed drying agent with snack food and water for fun,” he said.
A temperature reader found the instant hotpot can reach about 90 degree Celsius during heating.
