Electric blanket safety

Stay warm and safe this winter with these electric blanket tips

As the weather gets colder, many of us will be turning to our electric blankets for extra warmth. But, like all electrical items, they should be handled with care. Around 5,000 fires in the UK every year are caused by electric blankets but taking a few simple precautions can help prevent damage and injury – here’s what to consider.

Look for the safety mark

When it comes to electrical items, don’t let thrift get in the way of safety. The advice from the charity Electrical Safety First is to never buy a second-hand electric blanket.

If you’re on the look out for a new electric blanket, always buy it from a reputable retailer and make sure it has the UK safety mark. Blankets should be BEAB approved or be certified by Kema Keur. Both these marks show that the electric blanket has been tested for safety and meet UK and European standards.

It’s important to note that the BEAB approved symbol has changed. The current logo displays ‘BEAB approved’ on a white or black background, but older versions use a round symbol.

If your blanket has the old symbol, it could be time to buy a new one. Experts at the Fire Service recommend that you replace your electric blanket every 10 years.

Tell-tale signs your blanket needs replacing

If your electric blanket shows wear and tear, don’t wait 10 years before replacing it. If you spot any of these tell-tale signs, it’s wise to replace it as soon as you can – it could prevent serious damage:

⦁ Worn or frayed fabric.
⦁ Any burn or scorch marks.
⦁ Visible wires.
⦁ Damage to the cord that attaches to the plug socket.
⦁ A burning or smouldering smell when the blanket is on.
⦁ The control makes a buzzing sound when on.

Using your electric blanket safely

If you love snuggling up in your electric blanket, the good news is that used properly, they are safe, just remember these dos and don’ts.

Electric blanket dos:

⦁ Read and follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines (they’re there for a reason).
⦁ Only use the blanket as it’s intended. For over blankets, that means they should be used on top of the user. Under blankets should be underneath.
⦁ Regularly check your electric blanket for signs of wear and tear.
⦁ Be careful if you need to change the fuse. A 13-amp fuse must conform to BS 1362.

Electric blanket don’ts

⦁ Don’t use the blanket if it’s folded up or creased.
⦁ Don’t use the blanket with a hot water bottle and don’t touch it with wet hands or feet (remember, it’s an electric blanket).
⦁ Don’t pin the blanket or attach it to the bed.
⦁ Don’t use the electric blanket with an adjustable bed (the cord could become trapped).
⦁ Don’t let anyone vulnerable use the electric blanket unsupervised, including children, anyone with a pacemaker or someone with Alzheimer’s who may forget to switch it off.

Electric blankets and your health

For the vast majority of us, electric blankets are perfect for taking the edge off a cold winter’s day. However, in some cases, it could potentially do more harm than good – for example:

⦁ If you’re pregnant – an electric blanket could cause you to overheat which could become a serious issue in extreme cases so best not to use one, especially in the very early stages of pregnancy.
⦁ If you have diabetes – this won’t necessarily apply to everyone with diabetes but if you’ve suffered nerve damage as a result of your condition, you may be insensitive to the heat and not feel the blanket overheat. If that’s the case, you might want to consider using an alternative.
⦁ If you have poor circulation – similar to some instances of diabetes, if your circulation isn’t great, you might not notice the blanket overheating.

Electric blanket storage

Try not to fold your electric blanket up tightly, instead you should roll it or fold it loosely. Even better – keep it laid flat on your bed or a spare bed when it’s not in use.

If you’re replacing your old electric blanket, be sure to take it to a recycling centre that can properly dispose of electrical items – it shouldn’t be thrown away with household rubbish.

Keep warm – stay safe

It’s worth emphasising again that electric blankets are perfectly safe so long as they’re used as intended. If you’ve got any concerns about the safety of your electric blanket, we can help by testing it to make sure it’s fit for purpose. You can contact us at Barton Electrical by calling 01473 741320 or emailing info@bartonelectrical.net. You can also drop us a message using our contact form.