Caution to take when using water dispenser

Water dispensers are one of the best methods of making cool water accessible. This way you can stay hydrated all day long at the touch of a button. Water dispensers are like every other appliance in that they require cleaning and maintenance. If the water dispenser is well taken care of then it should not cause any problems throughout its useful life, and vice versa.

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With improper maintenance, not only is there a risk of damaging the dispenser, but one could also sustain injuries. The good news is that minimizing the risk of water dispenser related injuries is quite simple. All you need to do on your part is be vigilant and keep the following tips in mind.

BURN INJURIES

  • • The hot water spigot in most water dispensers has a safety switch to prevent burn injuries.
  • • Even then there are quite a few burn injuries caused by hot water dispensers, mostly due to careless use of the hot water.

One of the worst things you can do is try to fill hot water in a bottle with a small opening. This includes baby bottles. They have a small opening and it is very easy to miss the bottle and spill the hot water on your hands.

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However, if you only have a bottle with a small opening, place the cup or mug on the dip tray and then pour the water. This will keep you safe from burns.

IMPROPER BOTTLE LIFTING TECHNIQUES

It may come as surprise but you can quite possibly injure your back while using a water dispenser. This can happen if you lift the large bottle with an improper techniqueThis is why you have to adhere to the proper bottle lifting technique:

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  • • Most people bend at their waist and pickup the bottle. The bottle is about 40lbs in weight and can put a lot of stress on the back. Of course, you may not have an injury immediately, but overtime your back will give away.

The best way to lift the refill bottle is to keep your back straight and go down in a squatting position:

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  • • Tilt the bottle to one side and get a hand underneath it and hold it from the brim with the other hand.
  • • While keeping your back straight, stand up using your legs.
  • • Once done, tilt the bottle onto the dispenser. Not only will you find lifting the bottle a lot easier, it will also prove to be a safer option for your back.

You can also lift the bottle by getting down on one knee:

  • • To use this technique you will get down on one knee and rest the bottle on your leg.
  • • Keeping your back straight you will get up with the bottle on your leg.
  • • Once the bottle is lifted, you can load it onto the dispenser. This technique is as easy as getting down in the squat position.

RISK OF GERMS

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The water spigots of a dispenser are normally wet. In addition to this many people touch the dispenser on a daily basis.

This can lead to germ buildup on the spigots, and the germs and bacteria can make their way into your body through the water.

The only way to avoid this is to make sure the dispenser is clean. Depending upon where the dispenser is located, you should clean it weekly or daily.

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If the dispenser is kept in an office setting then it has to be cleaned on a daily basis as the risk of germs is greater if the dispenser is being used by many people. On the other hand if the dispenser is located in your home then you can get away with cleaning it once a week. Make sure you clean the spigots efficiently.

SLIPPING RELATED INJURIES

Some of the most serious injuries that can be caused due to a dispenser is slips and falls.

  • • This usually results due to water that accumulates along the dispenser’s foot.
  • • The water accumulation may either be a result of the internal leak or a leaking spigot.
  • • In any case the issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible, and also the floor needs to be cleaned as soon as a puddle is seen.
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Another reason for water accumulation is an overflowing dip tray.

  • • The dip tray is easily detachable so that it can be emptied. However, most users fail to empty it, especially in an office setting. This leaves a huge puddle at the bottom which can result in slip related injuries.

INJURIES TO CHILDREN

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Out of all the injury related incidents the most common are the ones that occur with children.

You need to be really careful with the dispenser if there are children at home. Children often manage to turn on the hot water, and they can get serious burn injuries to their delicate skin.

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This is why the hot water has a specific safety switch which you should keep off. When you need hot water you can turn it on.

Leaking hot water can also cause injuries to children. This is why you have to maintain your dispenser properly. This will make sure that your children are safe and your dispenser is in proper working order.

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