A new type of portable hand warmer filled with fuel could be too dangerous for the elderly and children to use, the Consumer Council warns.
To heat the device, one has to fill a metal container with lighter fluid and ignite it with a lighter. Although no fire can be seen, the hand warmer can be too hot for hands, the watchdog says.
'The temperature of the body of the product's metal case was found to exceed 70 degrees Celsius, while the top could reach up to 100 degrees,' said Ron Hui Shu-yuen, the vice-chairman of the council's publicity and community relations committee.
It should be kept in its external case and wrapper, as direct contact could cause burns, he said. It should not be used indoors, especially in enclosed areas such as a taxi.
If there is not enough oxygen in surroundings, the device could emit carbon monoxide when burning, Hui said. At worst, It may even cause death in a small and confined area.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre says even traditional pads containing chemicals that are activated to warm the body can be harmful if users do not know what they are. There were eight cases of elderly people swallowing the fillings of the pads from 2006 to 2009.