Veteran Broadcaster Odette Schwartz Recounts Horrific Acid Burn Accident

Veteran Israeli broadcaster and presenter Odette Schwartz has detailed a harrowing accident that occurred at her home approximately four months ago, resulting in severe burns and an emergency hospital transfer. While attempting to clear a clogged drain, a corrosive household acid spilled onto her body, causing extensive chemical burns.

Speaking on the "Hakol Patuach" podcast with Avi Shushan for Maariv, Schwartz described the terrifying moments and the intense physical pain she endured. She likened the sensation to being hit by a flamethrower, emphasizing the immediate need for action. "I jumped into the bathroom and sat under water for 20 minutes with my clothes on, splashing lukewarm water on myself," she recounted.

Schwartz later learned that her intuitive response of using lukewarm water was correct, as cold water would have closed her pores, trapping the acid, and hot water would have exacerbated the injury. Her clothes disintegrated from the acid. She also shared an anecdote about her cousin, who was present during the incident. While Schwartz urgently requested a hospital transfer, her cousin expressed her own distress about rising blood pressure, prompting Schwartz to firmly tell her to focus on the emergency at hand.

The recovery process was described as arduous and painful, involving prolonged periods of sitting in the bathtub with water and a plastic chair, accompanied by screams. Despite the ordeal, Schwartz affirmed a sense of gratitude, noting that a song of thanksgiving at the end of the podcast episode further strengthened this feeling.