Free electric blanket testing

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Renfrewshire Council is offering a free service to protect vulnerable older people from using dangerous faulty electric blankets.

The council's trading standards team is urging anyone aged 55 and over, or with a disability, who lives or works in Renfrewshire, to come and get their electric blanket checked for free before they pack it away for the summer.

Those eligible have until Friday 9 May 2008 to contact Renfrewshire Council trading standards service and make an appointment for a free check.

Blankets more than 10 years old are involved in 99% of fires caused by faulty electric blankets, and senior citizens are most at risk.

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "We want to give our senior citizens and those with a disability the opportunity to have their electric blankets checked before putting them away for the summer."

Key danger signs which should cause you to have your electric blanket checked or replaced are:

• if the blanket displays the old BEAB safety mark (a circle with the words “British Electrotechnical Approvals Board Conforms To B.S. 3456” inside it and a heart shape in the centre) this means it is more than 10 years old and will not comply with the latest safety standard
• the fabric is worn or frayed
• the tie-tapes are damaged or missing
• the flex is worn or damaged
• any connections at the plug or controls are loose
• the heating wires have been damaged or displaced. To check, hold the blanket up to the light. Wires should be evenly spaced and should not touch each other anywhere, and/or
• there are scorch marks anywhere

Renfrewshire Council trading standards staff advise that people should always buy new, as second hand blankets may not be safe. Buyers should look out for the new BEAB Mark (simply a rectangular box with the word BEAB in capitals), and an protection system which cuts the power off if the blanket starts to overheat. All new UK blankets have this safety feature.

A spokesperson for the service added: "People should always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. The switch/heat control should hang freely, and the electric flex must not be twisted across the blanket or tucked under the mattress or covers. An under blanket should be kept flat, and never used as an over blanket. Blankets should never be used if they are wet, soiled, or creased. They should not be switched on to dry them out. Never use a hot water bottle and an electric blanket together. These are basic safety criteria that will help avoid fires and potential injury, or even death.”

To have an electric blanket checked, or for further information, contact Renfrewshire Council Trading Standards Service on 0141 840 3184.

Press release: Monday 21 April 2008