A FILM showing the dangers of a cup of tea has been made to protect against further victims.

The Hot Drinks Harm film was made by North Bristol NHS Trust to highlight the risks of tea and coffee scalds on children.

Burn injuries from tea or coffee account for 40 per cent of admissions to the South West UK Children’s Burn Centre at Frenchay Hospital. Each week two children are brought into Frenchay with major burns caused by hot drinks.

Frenchay hospital’s burns team wanted to raise awareness of the problem of having hot drinks around small children.

The short film, which has already attracted 1,500 hits on YouTube, recreates a scenario showing a two-year-old boy who has been scarred for life after pulling a cup of tea over himself.

Dr Amber Young, lead consultant at the South West UK Children’s Burn Centre, said she hoped the film would make people think twice before putting a drink down.

She said: "Hot drink scalds usually involve a young child of one to two years of age pulling a cup of tea onto themselves or pulling on an item like a tablecloth that causes a drink to fall.

"Hot water can scald for up to 30 minutes after it is boiled and scalds can happen in seconds.

"Burn injuries from hot drinks are entirely preventable and that is why we wanted to make this film to highlight the dangers."

It is hoped the film will also be shown in GP surgeries, health centres and schools across the region.

The Hot Drinks Harm film was made with volunteers by Constellation Media and the scarring showing the damage that can be done to a child was provided by make-up artists from the City of Bristol College.

To view the film visit www.nbt.nhs.uk/hotdrinksharm