People who use electric blankets have been given a safety warning as temperatures fall during another cold snap. Weather warnings for snow are in place across the UK amid conditions which have been attributed to an Arctic blast.
Consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First is urging anyone who owns an electric blanket to take care if they plan on using it to keep warm. The charity carried out a survey which found almost a third of respondents said they would be using an electric blanket as an alternative to their central heating due to concerns about energy costs.
The organisation says people should check the age of their product, look for signs of damage, ensure it is rolled not folded, keep it away from water, not plug it into an extension lead and switch it off before they sleep. Adrian Bevan, from Kent, was caught up in a house fire after he forgot to turn off the old electric blanket he was using before falling asleep.
Adrian said: "I was using my late mother’s electric blanket for the first time before going to sleep and forgot to turn it off. In the middle of the night, I was awoken by thick smoke pouring into my lungs, I was completely disorientated and struggling to breathe.
"Kent Fire & Rescue Service were nothing short of fantastic when they arrived, attending to me, and found my smoke alarms weren’t working. They told me they if I had been in there for another half an hour, I would not have survived. It’s vital people perform the necessary checks to ensure their electric blankets are safe, their smoke alarms are functioning and not to fall asleep when it’s on – it’s not worth risking your life."
Electrical Safety First has issued a similar safety warning about electric heaters. It says it examined three heaters advertised to help households save on their energy bills, but found all of them posed serious risks of electric shock due to the mains plugs not meeting UK safety standards.
The charity has provided the following guidelines to use a heater safely:
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, commented: “With freezing temperatures predicted throughout much of the UK, it is important that people don’t put themselves in danger when trying to keep warm. Check your electric blanket for signs of damage, and if it’s very old, consider replacing it.
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”If you’re using a portable heater, you should never plug it into an extension lead, as this can overload and cause fires, ensure the heater is at least a metre away from combustible materials, such as clothes, and never leave the heater running unattended or overnight.
“Be wary of heater adverts making bold claims about saving money on your energy bills. We know first-hand that sellers are taking advantage of the cost-of-living crisis to sell dangerous products. We urge all shoppers to stick to reputable high street stores or go directly to their online websites to ensure the product you’re purchasing is safe.”
