Blanket testing reduces risks

Sheila Whiteley with her new electric blanket

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85-year-old, Sheila Whiteley from Norden has found some things definitely don’t improve with age.

When she took her thirty-five year old electric blankets along to the Rochdale Town Hall this week she was told that the type she had was banned from production in 1985 because of the risk of fire.

Mrs Whiteley’s blankets were among the 83 tested at a safety event hosted by Rochdale Borough Council and Age Concern. Of the blankets tested, 60 were found to be dangerous or unsafe and were replaced free of charge with new blankets by the council’s Home Improvement Agency.

Rochdale Borough Council’s Public Protection Manager, Andy Glover said: “They stopped producing the type of blanket Mrs Whiteley had in 1985 because they had no overheating protection which meant that they were far more likely to catch fire if they had an electrical fault.

“This shows how important it is for anyone who owns an electric blanket and has not had it tested recently to examine it carefully for any signs of wear. Blankets should be tested at least every three years. If it is worn, or it is more than 10 years old, then replace it immediately.”

Old or damaged electric blankets cause more than 5,000 house fires in the UK each year and older people over 50 are at greatest risk, with six times the national average of fatal injuries. Electric blankets should not be used if the fabric is worn or frayed, there are scorch marks anywhere, the tie tapes are damaged or missing, the flex is worn or damaged or any connections are loose. They should not be left plugged in when not in use and do not use one if you are using a hot water bottle.

Mrs Whiteley said: “The blankets were working fine but I felt I shouldn’t trust them too much so I took them along to be checked. I am delighted with the new ones, when I get them home I’ll just sit and admire them”

Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for community safety, Councillor Dale Mulgrew added: “Over the last year we have tested 265 blankets and we’ve found 81% have failed safety checks and had to be replaced. I urge everyone to test their electric blankets regularly or replace them if they are showing any signs of wear and tear – it’s just not worth the risk.”