Often, the percentage from bath water scalds goes up to 60 or 70 per cent, whereas a hot cup of tea will rarely cause more than a 10 per cent scald.How deep and disfiguring a scald is depends on the temperature of the water and the duration of contact. If a helpless individual falls in a bath, they tend to be in contact with the water for a significant period of time, so not only are the percentages greater, but the degree of disfigurement is greater.